[Stoves] Discussion of biomass cooking stoves <>

[paal wendelbo]

Dear Stovers.

Not only wishes for a Happy New Year, but a real action too on the FES development.

            We has today started a small TLUD pilot-project in Zambia  in an area where there is a felt need of changes on the household energy sector, deforestation and smoke-related deceases caused by charcoal and 3 stone firewood cooking.

             We have learned from the pureSIG discussion here that it is possible to cook a meal on the lost combustible gases from charcoal production. We have also learned that we need local acceptance for introducing new technology and are aware of the cultural aspect.  We are not sure US Walmart will waste time on this for selling stoves and fuel. 

            What we know is that if a household of five have 360 fast growing trees which can be cut down every year, half of the shooting from the stem will provide enough fuel for cooking the whole year and the rest can be sold. This one inch shootings is easy to cut with a machete and a household need about 2 kg a day for cooking. We don't want to take the job from the charcoal business and will involve them from the very beginning for producing, choppings and sales of fuel. We also know the local tinsmiths needs jobs and will train them for production of stoves. The end users need training to handle the new technology. We want the whole community to participate in the process of the changes

            We have also learned from the discussion that the Tlud/ND is giving clean smokeless energy, is efficient and flexible and will cover all the needs of energy for household and institutional cooking.  The Tlud can utilize different types of biofuel like sawdust, maize cobs,

straw, briquettes, pellets etc with only small changes. That's why we have chosen the Tlud/nd for our project, but we start with the fuel, the fast growing trees and the local resources. Afterwards we want to introduce other types of biomass  for briquetting for household fuel.



With regards Paal W. paaw at online.no