Keeling Curve

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Year Project Originated:

Project Summary / Description:

Simoshi is the result of over ten years of experience of Virginia Echavarria in the region and the improved cook stove sector. Virginia noticed that many efforts and sources of funding were dedicated to the household cooking sector, but unfortunately the same was not the case for schools. She therefore decided to found Simoshi with the aim at moving schools away from traditional 3-stone cooking practices to energy efficient cook stoves (IICS). The cooking sector is educating the audience with simplistic messages, focusing on consumer based financing, economic fuel savings and technology efficiency as the sole motivators for users to move away from traditional cooking practices. Simoshi's service-oriented approach provides better perceptions and outcomes from users, promoting a positive behavioral change in the long term.

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How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

The use of improved cooking stoves will substantially lower the amount of non-renewable biomass that is used for school and institutional cooking. The already selected UgaStove portable firewood IICS has shown to use significantly less wood fuel to cook the same amount of food in comparison to traditional stoves, hence schools reporting to having reduced their firewood expenditures by at least 50% per school term.

The methodology comprises efficiency improvements in thermal applications of non- renewable biomass. Examples of applicable technologies and measures include the introduction of high efficiency biomass fi red project devices (cook stoves) to replace the existing devices and/or energy efficiency improvements non-existing biomass fired cook stoves.

Improved cook stoves are not widely available in the country, as per SE4ALL, By the end of 2018, just over 1 percent of Ugandan households were using clean fuel as their primary cooking energy source, typically LPG (0.7 percent) or electricity (0.5 percent). At institutional level (eg schools), around 94% of the preprimary schools use biomass (86% firewood and 8% charcoal) as their main source of energy. Around 88% of the secondary schools use biomass (72% firewood and 16% charcoal) as their main source of energy.

Use of non-renewable biomass can be demonstrated when there is a depletion of biomass stock in forests or a reduction of forest coverage, which means that there has been an unsustainable use of the biomass resources. In Uganda, during the period 1990 to 2010 the extent of forest decreased from 4.751 million hectares to 2.988 million hectares. Also, the carbon stock in living forest biomass decreased from 171 million tons to 109 million tons. (Global Forest Resources Assessment, 2010).

The use of improved cooking stoves will substantially lower the amount of non-renewable biomass that is used for school and institutional cooking. The already selected UgaStove portable firewood IICS has shown to use significantly less wood fuel to cook the same amount of food in comparison to traditional stoves, hence schools reporting to having reduced their firewood expenditures by at least 50% per school term.

The small-scale project activity registered with the CDM and Gold Standard, isa Type II project: “Energy Efficiency Improvement Project” and applies the small scale baseline and monitoring methodology AMS II.G, version 12.0,“Energy Efficiency Measures in Thermal Applications of Non-RenewableBiomass”.

As such, the registered Project Design Document with the Gold Standard (project ID GS4364) is publicly available and includes all calculations for emission reductions, the indicators Simoshi will collect, and several factors that play a crucial role when calculating the 9 Sustainable Development Goals achieved.

The emission reduction parameter is calculated as a result of IICS meeting the minimum thermal efficiency requirement of 20%. This efficiency is translated into fuel savings compared to traditional stoves used in Uganda. This reduction in fuel consumption is estimated and corresponding CO2 emission reductions are calculated from these savings. The emission reductions are calculated as per the registered PPD and as per the methodology requirement.

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

Sustainable Development Goals:

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Addressing gender issues in clean energy recognizes that women are key players in health, environmental, economic and climate change issues. Clean cooking results in tangible impacts for women and girls. They play a crucial leadership role in the adoption and use of clean cooking solutions. With improved health and less time spent collecting fuel, they can pursue income-generating or educational opportunities, contributing to poverty alleviation. The example given in schools as the kitchens prepare their daily meals from energy efficient cook stoves provides with a valuable opportunity to educate the school children about the benefits accrued from the use of an IICS.

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