Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, Vol. 4, No. 3 (2009) 282 – 291
WHY ARE SOLAR COOKERS STILL UNPOPULAR AMONG DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS?
Full-text: http://jestec.taylors.edu.my/Vol%204%20Issue%203%20September%2009/Vol_4_3_282_291_Kramer.pdf
PAUL KRÄMER
Sonnenenergie für Westafrika e.V. (SEWA), Solar Global e.V. and Lernen – Helfen – Leben e.V. (LHL), Schoppmannweg 6, D 59494 Soest, Germany, Email: p.kraemer.soest@t-online.de
The household energy problem in countries of the South remains critical. Solar cookers can contribute to a solution; however, their potential is seldom realized by the academic and political world. By contrast, bio-energy as a replacement for fossil fuels is increasingly popular in Europe. With regard to tropical developing countries, this European enthusiasm implies unrealistic views about the renewability of woody biomass in drylands under conditions of climate change and increasing population pressure. Another reason of error is a too narrow concept of modernization of energy supplies, neglecting affordable cooking energies and focusing nearly exclusively on electricity. Cheap solar cooking appliances with a low thermal output are useful in extreme situations like refugee camps to allow survival of large numbers of individuals or mini-groups. Under normal circumstances families need appliances which can cope with the volume of staple food needed, that is the number of people times about 1 litre/person/day.
