Actual Design Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Hidekatsu Saito) is pleased to announce that on June 30, 2026, our research project, "Feasibility Study on the Introduction of a Snow-Cooled Cold Chain Utilizing Snow and Ice Thermal Energy in Georgia," was selected for the FY2025 Supplementary Budget Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Subsidy Program (Small-Scale Demonstration & Feasibility Study Project) by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
The selected project aims to investigate the feasibility of implementing a snow-cooled cold chain system in Georgia that utilizes winter snow as a sustainable cold thermal energy resource.

FY2025 Supplementary Budget Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Subsidy Program
(Small-Scale Demonstration & FS Project) Official Website
https://r7h-gs-hojo-web-fspoc.jp/

- Background

Georgia has a rich history of winemaking, with wine standing as one of the country’s flagship processed agricultural products. The nation also produces food products, including dairy items like cheese and yogurt, creating a growing demand for precise temperature control to preserve quality and add product value. Furthermore, mountainous regions experience heavy snowfall during winter, presenting a viable opportunity to harness snow as a local cold thermal energy resource.

A "Yukimuro" (snow storage room) is a sustainable technology that utilizes cold energy from stored winter snow to create a low-temperature, high-humidity storage environment with minimal electricity consumption. Beyond reducing the energy and cost required for temperature control, it is expected to contribute to quality preservation and value addition for agricultural and food products.

This project will combine Georgia's natural conditions and agri-food industry needs with Japan's proprietary Yukimuro and snow-cooling technologies to evaluate the conditions necessary for demonstrating and commercializing a low-carbon temperature-controlled infrastructure.

- Scope & Project Details

To prepare for the demonstration and commercialization of a snow-cooled cold chain in Georgia, this project will conduct on-site field research and comprehensive literature reviews. Specifically, we will evaluate the feasibility of utilizing snowfall resources, local market demand, applicable technical methods, relevant regulations and frameworks, business profitability, and implementation structures to verify the potential transition to a full demonstration phase.

Additionally, we will identify candidate demonstration sites and target applications, assessing the system's suitability for wine production and storage, food processing (including dairy products like cheese and yogurt), and agricultural produce preservation. Through these initiatives, we aim to establish a concrete framework for a low-carbon temperature-controlled infrastructure demonstration project in Georgia, paving the way for future commercial adoption.

Contact Information:
Actual Design Inc.
2-19-8 Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5541-1020 / Email: info@actualdesign.tokyo