Designed to function in arid to semi-arid regions with at least 5 sun-hours per day, the photovoltaic, direct-drive solar refridgerator is a chest-type cabinet with a 165-225liter internal volume, a lockable top-opening door, a corrosion-resistant coated steel exterior, and a patented low-frost system.

Pioneered by NASA to provide power for satellites and spacecraft, photovoltaics is a viable source of energy used to light over 1 million rural homes around the world. Photovoltaic (PV) cells directly convert sunlight into electricity, without having to utilize limited fossil fuel resources. PV energy contributes to improved air quality and aids in the reduction of greenhouse gases that play a role in global warming. For example, when it displaces coal-fired generation, a common source of electricity among power plants, harmful sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions are eliminated.
Most homes running on PV energy, however, employ simplistic lighting systems that are incapable of providing refrigeration. This can be especially troublesome for areas in which no conventional power source exists, including remote automated weather stations, forest stations, and Third World villages.
Designed to function in arid to semi-arid regions with at least 5 sun-hours per day, the PV direct-drive, or “PV direct,”  solar refridgerator is a chest-type cabinet with a 165-225 liter internal volume, a lockable top-opening door, a corrosion-resistant coated steel exterior, and a patented low-frost system. It uses thermal storage for cooling efficiency, with a direct connection between the vapor compression cooling system and the PV module. This is accomplished by integrating a phase-change material into a well-insulated refridgerator cabinet and developing a microprocessor-based control system that permits the direct connection of a PV module to a variable-speed compressor. The integration allows for peak power-point tracking and the elimination of batteries (thus, the environmental threat of improper battery disposal is eliminated).

FR 165R/F solar-powered refridgerators can keep contents cold for 7 days, even during extensive periods of cloudy weather when sunlight is not available for energy production.

For the phase-change material, FR 165R/F and FR 225R/F refridgerator/Freezers uses a nontoxic, low-cost, water-based solution with exceptional freezing properties. The variable speed feature allows the compressor to operate longer during the day and better utilize the variable solar resource. A fixed speed compressor, conversely, can only use about 50 percent of the solar resource, and would not be able to begin cooling as early in the morning or as late in the afternoon, when the sun is low and not shining directly on the solar panel. It would also waste power during solar noon, when the available power is more than the compressor needs to run.
The solar refridgerator’s thermal storage material provides 7 days of reserve cold storage, even in tropical climates, or during extensive periods of cloudy weather when sunlight is not available for energy production. Additionally, the unit is manufactured to run on as little as 90 to 120 watts of rated PV power. The combination of a super quiet compressor and fan ensure nearly silent operation, while light indicators on the front of the refridgerator inform users of the status of the thermal reserve. For frequently cloudy regions or areas with less than 5 sun-hours per day, Our Refridgeration offers highly efficient battery-powered refridgerators, as well as freezers. These units run on 12 or 24 volts, direct current, and require a smaller PV or renewable energy system.
Besides residential homes and stores, applications for the solar refridgerator include cabins, vacation houses, eco-friendly resorts, farms, medical clinics, and street vendor carts. It should be noted that approximately 2 billion of Earth’s inhabitants do not have electricity

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