naturalcapitalpartners.com The Danjiang River Solar Cookers are designed to improve the indoor air quality and living conditions of 100,000 rural households in one of the poorer regions in China. The cookers consist of a 1.7 m 2 parabolic dish, which concentrates solar energy onto a central cooking pot and provides sufficient heat for cooking the local staple food of rice. Its design is ideal for the local diet and climatic conditions, with ample sunshine throughout the year. The cooker displaces traditional inefficient coal-fired cooking stoves, significantly reducing fuel consumption and reducing indoor air pollution. Innovative design: The unique bowl-shaped stove is designed to concentrate solar energy onto a central cooking pot. Project type: Household devices Region: Asia Standards: China: Danjiang River Solar Cookers
Transcript
naturalcapitalpartners.com
The Danjiang River Solar Cookers are designed to improve the indoor air quality and living conditions of 100,000 rural households in one of the poorer regions in China. The cookers consist of a 1.7 m2 parabolic dish, which concentrates solar energy onto a central cooking pot and provides sufficient heat for cooking the local staple food of rice. Its design is ideal for the local diet and climatic conditions, with ample sunshine throughout the year. The cooker displaces traditional inefficient coal-fired cooking stoves, significantly reducing fuel consumption and reducing indoor air pollution.
Innovative design: The unique bowl-shaped stove is designed to concentrate solar energy onto a central cooking pot.
Project type: Household devices
Region: Asia
Standards:
China: Danjiang River Solar Cookers
Contribution to sustainable developmentThe project contributes to sustainable development in several key areas:
Energy accessThis large-scale project is helping more than 300,000 people by replacing older stoves in almost 100,000 households. The solar cooker completely displaces older, inefficient fossil fuel-fired stoves through the use of renewable energy.
Economic growthThe distribution of the solar cookers is targeted towards the poorest households in this rural region, providing them free-of-charge cookers, allowing them to save a significant portion of their annual expenditure. The project also introduces new and innovative household technology which is manufactured in the country.
Health & well-beingThe reduction in indoor air pollution provides significant health benefits, particularly for women and children who are most frequently exposed. As the solar cookers completely displace all fuel use, rather than just improving the efficiency, the incidences of respiratory-related diseases are reduced.
The projectThe participating households can significantly reduce fuel consumption, leading to annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions of 180,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent once project implementation to 100,000 households is complete.
With an aim of providing solar cookers to 100,000 low-income rural households, the project will help improve the quality of life for approximately 300,000 people, by reducing indoor air pollution and expenditure on fuel.
Within the project area, the local agricultural bureau invites households to take part in the project via local TV and posters. The bureau typically selects households which use coal as their fuel, have more than two people in the home and have a low or below (local) average income. The average annual income of the local population is RMB 2,600 (about US $420) and approximately 10% of this is attributed to fuel costs. Significant financial savings are possible through the lowered reliance on traditional coal-fired stoves.
naturalcapitalpartners.com
The project will help improve the quality of life for approximately 300,000 people
The solar cookers are specifically designed to optimise the local climate of ample sunshine.
The project operates in areas of extremely low household income.
Job creationThe implementation of the project has created 180 permanent jobs, as well as several other temporary positions which were required during the manufacturing process.
Financial securityThe solar cookers eliminate the need for fuel during much of the year, reducing household expenditure for heating and cooking. Estimated annual savings are RMB 300 (US $50), which is more than 10% of the annual income of the poorest households. In addition, carbon finance means the solar cookers are distributed free to the low income households on which it is focused.
Empowering womenThe efficient technology of the solar cooker reduces the effort needed for cooking, allowing women to participate in other activities and spend more time with family. There is also a reduction in the need to clean indoors from the reduced air pollution.
The region Henan Province is located in the central part of China and has a population of more than 90 million people. The province has both relatively low per capita income and ranks low on the Human Development Index1, coming 20th out of 31 provinces. This index is a composite statistic of education, income and longevity indices, calculated in order to measure social and economic development within countries. The project is in Xichuan County in the Southwest of Henan Province.
Location The project is located in the Danjiang River basin, Henan, China.
