A series of innovative technologies hold the promise of providing the deprived access to clean energy. At the forefront are cook stove manufacturers such as Envirofit and Score Stoves, says Just Means News Writer Sarah Brown. "In CSR terms, the creation of new technologies will hold the key to clean energy for the developing world."
Envirofit, a manufacturer of clean energy cookstoves started as a result of CSR partnership between the Shell Foundation, Colorado State University's Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory, and the materials Science and Technology Division at Oak Ridge National Labs.
Envirofit has taken up the cause of clean cookstoves as their responsibility towards the society as according to them, Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) currently claims the lives of 1.5 million people a year worldwide, or one person every 20 seconds. Women and children make up 85% of these deaths due to their increased exposure in the home.
Brown notes that compared to traditional cooking fires, these cookstoves reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, use up to 60% less fuel and reduce cooking cycle time by 50% .
Another Project, the Score Stove, a joint CSR venture between experts from across the world to develop a biomass-powered generator aims to assist easy access to energy in rural communities. It has multiple uses ranging from cooking, refrigeration and electricity generation from thermal waves emitted during cooking.
Brown notes that compared to traditional cooking fires, these cookstoves reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, use up to 60% less fuel and reduce cooking cycle time by 50% .
Another Project, the Score Stove, a joint CSR venture between experts from across the world to develop a biomass-powered generator aims to assist easy access to energy in rural communities. It has multiple uses ranging from cooking, refrigeration and electricity generation from thermal waves emitted during cooking.
Tests have been carried out in Nepal and Kenya to investigate how the Score Stove works in practice. This has helped to hone the design and performance of the generator to ensure it is low-cost and high efficiency.
In order to make it viable, the target cost of the generator is £20 per household, based on the production of a million units.
Photo Courtesy: Score Research; Envirofit
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