“The development effects of solar cooking technologies for households

and institutions in Africa”

ConferenceLocal adaptation to climate change for improved food and

energy security in rural AfricaOslo

14.12.10

Pia OttePhD candidate, Institute for Sociology and Political Science,

NTNU, Trondheim

Overview• NUFU solar network project• Why solar cooking?• What is solar cooking?• Development• Development effects of solar cooking for

households • Development effects of solar cooking for

institutions

NUFU solar network project• Network Project on Small Scale Solar Concentrating Systems• Aim: Develop a small scale solar cooking system with high

temperatures and heat storage for public institutions in an African setting

• Applications: Cooking, heating water, production of steam?• Project period 2007-2011• Cooperation partners

- Eduardo Modlane Universtiy, Maputo, Mozambique- Makerere University, Uganda- Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia- Mekelle University, Ethiopia- Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

Types of activitiesMaputo Makarere Addis Mekelle Bahir Dar NTNU

Heat collection

Dish with mirrors

Trough system Optimization

Local production of dish

Dish with mirrors and film

Heat transport

Air based, once through

Heat pipes Heat transport to injera pan

Air, oil, HTF

Heat storage Rock bed Rock bed Insulation

Rock bed, PCM

Tracking Mechanical Adapt form other activity

Control systems

Simulation System dynamics

Trough analysis

Heat pipes Simulation injera pan

Ray tracer

Applications Solar system for injera baking

2009 Report: 13 PhDs, 14 MScs, 22 presentations + other media

Source: GRID Arendal (2010)

Why solar cooking?

What is solar cooking?• Principle of solar cooking: Sunlight is

converted to heat energy which is retained for cooking

• Clean cooking technology• First design of solar cooker: Nicholas de

Saussure (1740-1799) built a black insulated solar cooker

• Worldwide numerous organizations working with solar cookers (SCI founded in 1987)

Development • „Over time developmet has carried very

different meanings“ (Nederveen Pieterse 2001:5)

• Modernization Theory 1950s, Dependency Theory 1960s, Alternative Development 1970s, Human Development 1980s…

Capability Approach (pioneered by Amartya Sen)• Development as process which expands people`s real freedoms• Freedom - people have the choice to live the life they want to live

• `Freedom as principle ends of development`• Remove obstacles which limit freedom

Solar cooking & Development• Within academics “technological driven focus”• Most data related to development effects based on solar cooking

proponents (risk of biased information)• Particularly lack on solar cooking & development data on institutional

level• Need for a holistic people-centered approach to analyse the

development effects of solar cooking

Pell (2005) quantitative study on solar cooking in central highlands of Bolivia• Use of solar cookers lead to fuelwood savings• study limited on economic benefits

Pouris & Wentzel (2007) fieldtest by DME & GTZ (1996-2004) in South Africa• fuelwood savings• monetary savings• time savings (while cooking & collecting firewood)• poverty reduction• income generating activities

Development effects of Solar Cooking• Master thesis: “Cooking with the sun-

An analysis of Solar Cooking in Tanzania, its adoption and impact on development”

Comparison of three different small scale solar cooking projects

(different settings, different technologies)

• Improved perception of health among women• Time gain by women (during cooking & collecting

fuelwood)• Increased income generating activities due to

time gain• Fuelwood savings

Development effects of solar cooking for institutions?

• Not much research • Limited on economic view(fuelwood & monetary savings)• What about social development?

- Children carrying firewood to school- Cooks using firewood for themselves

• Need of comparative analysis

Questions?