Solar Cooking
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Last edited: 26 February 2018      
This article is about an entity that either no longer exists or that may no longer be active in solar cooking promotion. It is retained here for archival purposes.

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The following product description has been provided by the manufacturer

Blazing Tube Solar manufactures the trough-style Blazing Tube Solar Appliance and the Sol*Saver Water Pasteurizer. Their mission is promoting the use of solar energy in developing countries, which has also been the goal of many organizations worldwide. Appropriate applications of solar in such regions, include electric production, thermal water disinfection, food drying, and solar cooking. However, as is the case with solar energy in general, the adoption by families in developing countries has been minimal. Initial cost, ease of use, reliability and long-term durability have often been significant factors, which has dissuaded widespread use.

Both the BTSA and the Sol*Saver display high solar absorption efficiencies and can be implemented in many regions of the world. On clear days, both devices can produce three cycles of production. This means the BTSA can cook up to three meals worth of food, and the Sol*Saver can disinfect 24 bottles of safe drinking water. In more cloudy weather, the number of cycles decreases, but some production is assured. Only full rainy weather prevents the successful utilization of these units.

News[]

  • June/July 2017: Isabella Troconis conducted a field research in Goudoubo Refugee Camp, one of the camps in Burkina Faso where Blazing Tube solar cookers were distributed. Based on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)'s reports, only 2% of recipients in Goudoubo camp are still using the Blazing Tube solar cooker as a secondary option, and none as the primary choice for cooking. However, she visited on daily basis for one month the zones in Goudoubo where presumably some women were still using the Blazing Tube solar cookers and never witnessed a single women cooking with it. Read more about her findings: The Broken Promise of Solar Cooking. The Case of Goudoubo Refugee Camp in Burkina Faso.
Blazing tube rotas

Idle Blazing Tube solar cookers. Photos taken by Isabella Troconis during her visits in Goudoubo Refugee Camp in Burkina Faso (June, 2017)

UNCHR supplied Blazing Tube solar cooker in Burkina Faso, 2-9-15

A refugee in Burkina Faso uses a Blazing Tube solar cooker supplied by UNCHR. - UNCHR

  • February 2015: A refugee woman in Burkina Faso cooks rice with a Blazing Tube solar cooker. The stove is assembled in the USA and costs around $100USD. Oliver Lompo, UNHCR Environment Officer in Burkina Faso explained the impact the stove has had. “Beforehand, refugee women had to walk several hours a day to collect firewood. Since we have a lot of sunshine, the stove allows them to cook without spending any more time on firewood collection. And, more importantly, it does not produce any smoke - people love it.” - UNCHR

Articles in the media[]

Reports[]

February 2018: Prices, Products and Priorities Meeting Refugees’ Energy Needs in Burkina Faso and Kenya - Practical Action

See also[]