One Earth Designs

Collaborating with villagers from Awuju, Xiakeba, Zhengga, Quma, and Bailing Villages in Amdo-Tibet (western China), we have developed an innovative solar design that incorporates both cooking and heating functionalities.

By addressing the villagers concerns about fuel collection and current solar cooker design, we are reducing the time needed for collecting fuel. This allows for alternative economic activities and increased education for women. In addition, pollution due to fuel combustion will be reduced, improving health and productivity.

The SolSource solar solution, however, is just the first step towards a sustainable rural energy model for high altitude regions. As biomass fuels are phased out, sanitation from excess animal excrement is a potential health concern. Methane recapture for electricity generation would be an ideal solution, however, low temperatures in high altitude regions currently prevent its widespread use. Biomass gasification is another option but has not previously been explored in Qinghai. Although clean biomass energy is not feasible at this stage in the project, our household solar heating system is built for easy modification in order to maintain optimum temperatures in a household digester and we hope to address this aspect in future project phases.

By supplying low-input renewable energies, we are opening opportunities for the development of rural community economies which we hope to encourage through our discussions and training sessions.

[This text was borrowed from http://www.oneearthdesigns.org/projects/solsource.]