Keeling Curve

Primary Project Category:

Project Summary / Description:

Purpose: is to introduce women to clean solar PV and thermal cooking with only solar non-polluting fuel. 
When is now: Solar Cookers International has been bringing box ovens to the camp,
Why: We want to bring more PV and thermal options, that are of higher quality and mass producible in Kenya. 
How: The cost of PV panels is now $0.75per Watt in Kenya. These PV panels can charge phones and computers, when not being used to cook.
How Formed: Our team has developed PV powered $700 and thermal cookers $150 for sale in the USA, and know these system cost more but in Kenya fossil fuels, wood, charcoal and kerosine and propane cost $319 per year to cook food for a family of four. Solar cooking pays back in fuel saving in 0.5 to 2.5 years.

Regions of Operations:

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Replaces/avoids GHGs (e.g., projects that replace sources of GHGs, such as the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, transport, or other energy uses), Removes/stores GHGs (e.g., projects that capture, sequester, or otherwise enhance the "sinks" that accumulate and store GHGs)

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Solar PV and thermal solar cooking offer a zero-pollution solution to women who traditionally tend air polluting fires. Solar frees up their time for more productive work. Word Health Organization estimates 1.5 million women die prematurely from smoke inhalation. Solar Cookers International estimates 2.5-3.5 billion people depend on wood and charcoal to cook their food. Most of this fuel wood is gathered by young children, usually girls, denuding the forests, and preventing them from going to school. PV cookers can be switched off when not in use, and allow Cooking like in developed countries. Thermal cookers only need to be checked on hourly for 5 minutes, freeing up a lot of the cook‚ time. Women and young girls are the most heavily impacted by cooking and fuel gathering. Girls should be in School, not risking molesting while gathering fire wood. Women and children should not be endangered by toxic smoke. Women‚ time can be spent on more productive activities for the society.

Sub-Categories:

Mission Statement:

Our team includes Duncan O. Mbuge, PhD , from university of Nairobi ,Kenya , a mechanical engineering professor. He is currently testing 3 PV solar hot plate systems. He is working with a nonprofit foundation that is managed by Roger Haines who manufactures and sells Haines 2 solar thermal cookers. Which are certified by Solar Cookers International. Our team intends to donate both PV and thermal cookers to Kakuma refugees. UN must accept the donations; the foundation is working to get this done. Dr. Mbuge has been working in Kakuma for the last four years installing cold storage systems for the World Food Program (WFP) through University of Nairobi and now solar cookers through the University of Nairobi Enterprises and Services Ltd. (UNES) branch.