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Afstor Solar Home System

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Last edited: 25 October 2025      

Afstor Solar Home Systems are integrated small-scale electrification products produced by Afstor Oy that combine photovoltaic generation, battery storage, and an induction-capable solar cooker to provide daytime electric cooking, lighting and device charging for off-grid and weak-grid households.

Afstor Solar Home Systems (often shortened to Afstor SHS) package a solar photovoltaic (PV) array, an energy storage battery, power electronics and an induction-compatible cooking appliance into a single household solution. The systems are positioned as alternatives to traditional biomass cooking in rural and peri-urban communities, while also delivering basic household electricity services such as lighting and mobile-phone charging.

Design and technical components[]

  • Photovoltaic array – PV modules sized to supply daytime cooking loads and to charge the battery for evening uses.
  • Battery storage – a DC battery bank that stores solar energy for evening lighting and low-power loads and buffers daytime cooker demand.
  • Power electronics – charge controller, battery management system and inverter or DC–DC converters to supply the induction cooker and household loads.
  • Induction-capable cooker – an electric induction cooktop or hotplate designed or selected to match the system’s voltage and power constraints.
  • User interface and monitoring – basic controls for power and cooking settings; some deployments include remote monitoring or CO2-tracking features.

Deployment and projects[]

Afstor systems have been trialed and documented in research and pilot projects that examine electric cooking adoption in underserved contexts. Notable project activity includes participation in multidisciplinary research partnerships studying how distributed electric cooking affects household energy use, livelihoods and local ecosystems. Project work typically combines technology deployment with user training, monitoring of fuelwood displacement and evaluation of social impacts.

Reported benefits[]

  • Reduced biomass use – substitution of wood or charcoal for some meals decreases pressure on local fuelwood supplies.
  • Improved indoor air quality – elimination or reduction of open-fire combustion lowers household exposure to smoke.
  • Time savings – less time spent collecting fuel can free time for education, income-generating activities or other tasks.
  • Access to lighting and connectivity – integrated storage provides evening lighting and device charging that support communication and study.
  • Climate co-benefits – reduced direct emissions from cooking and the potential to link deployments with reforestation or carbon-accounting initiatives.

Challenges and considerations[]

  • Behavioral and cultural fit – induction cooking requires compatible cookware and adjustments to cooking practices; acceptance depends on local tastes and habits.
  • System sizing and solar variability – cooking power demands are high relative to lighting loads; solar resource seasonality and battery capacity affect reliability.
  • Cost and financing – higher upfront cost compared with traditional stoves can limit affordability without tailored financing or pay-as-you-go models.
  • Maintenance, repair and supply chains – ensuring after-sales service, spare parts and local technical capacity is critical for sustained use.
  • Monitoring and verification – robust impact verification is needed to substantiate claims about fuel displacement, health improvements and carbon reductions.

See also[]

Contact[]

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