Elsevier

Solar Energy

Volume 66, Issue 6, September 1999, Pages 401-407
Solar Energy

SOLAR COOKER ACCEPTANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA: RESULTS OF A COMPARATIVE FIELD-TEST

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(99)00039-0Get rights and content

Abstract

A one-year comparative field-test of 7 different types of solar cookers, involving 66 families in 3 study areas in South Africa, has been conducted by the South African Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ). Overall, families use solar cookers on 38% of all days and for 35% of all cooked meals; they express clear preferences for certain cooker types. Solar cookers, together with wood (stoves and open fires, used on 42% of all days), are the cooking appliances most used. Fuel consumption measurements show overall fuel savings of 38%, resulting in estimated pay-back periods (through monetary fuel savings) from 8 month onwards, depending on the type and region. Economic analysis, acquisition of test cookers by users after the placement period as well as an independent market study, have led to a second programme phase of commercial pilot dissemination of locally produced cookers, adapted according to field-test experiences.

Section snippets

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, research on solar cookers has clarified a number of issues:

  • reliable information is available on the technical aspects of different solar cooker types (Funk and Larson, 1998),

  • test procedures have been proposed (Mullick et al., 1987),

  • comparative tests have been conducted in Almerı́a, Spain (ECSCR, 1994).

While these findings established the cookers’ technical suitability and laid the basis for improved performance, other aspects have remained obscure: little information is

METHODOLOGY

The study (Palmer Development Group, 1997) was designed to be as open as possible in three ways:

  • Users had the last word, both in judging solar cooking in general and in the preference concerning different types of solar cookers.

  • Wherever possible, independent methods were used to check important findings.

  • Outside expertise (from industry, distributors, market researchers, independent experts, etc.) was sought for comparison and feedback.

A baseline study (Palmer Development Group, 1996), targeting

TECHNOLOGY OF TEST COOKERS

The seven solar cooker types selected for the test according to the procedure described above are shown in Fig. 1. For technical details, see ECSCR (1994). Before handing out the solar cookers to the users, it was important to ensure that all selected cookers were technically adapted for the preparation of the most important dishes prepared in the test areas. This was done by a practical cooking test held in July 1996 during the first training session of monitors on the exhibition site of the

SOLAR COOKER USE AMONGST FAMILIES

One of the central questions at the outset of this study was whether and to what extent families would actually use the solar cookers put at their disposal. To answer this question in detail, an elaborate questionnaire system was used.

Averaged over all study areas and cooker types, the evaluation showed that:

  • on 38% of all days, families used solar cookers at least once,

  • families used the solar cookers to prepare 35% of all cooked meals,

  • users were satisfied with the results of 93% of all solar

Fuel savings

Fuel use was determined by measuring the consumption of different fuels every day for a week. This was done at the beginning of the study, before solar cookers were placed with families, then during the summer season, and again in the winter. Initial sample size was 21 solar cooker users (7 in each study area), plus a control group of 21 non-users.

Table 2 below represents the results for the corresponding total average (over all users and all fuel types), stating that the overall fuel savings

FAMILY USER PREFERENCE

The preference of family users for the different cooker types was assessed in three independent ways:

  • by use frequencies of the different cookers. The most used cooker for small families is the REM5, followed by the ULOG. For large families, the most used cooker is the SK12, followed by the Schwarzer1.

  • by the sales of the used test cookers. The most sold cooker for small families is the REM5, followed by the ULOG. For large families, the most sold cooker is the SK12, followed by the REM15. The

SOCIO-CULTURAL AND MACRO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS

The solar cookers have been tested in complex social environments characterised by poverty, high levels of migration, low levels of production and a lack of institutional support. Impacts on women at the household level were found to include time savings which provide the opportunity to spend more time for other activities. Also, fuel strategies adapted to cope with poverty are not abandoned completely but adapted slightly.

A macro-economic analysis was performed to shed light on likely economic

CONCLUSIONS

  • The field test shows that solar energy is a promising option capable of being one of the leading energy sources for cooking in the study region.

  • The high use-rate of solar cookers, on a par with wood and above other fuels, indicates acceptance of solar cooking by families.

  • Each type of cooker is found to have its own supporters. An obvious universal, single choice does not emerge. However, clear user preferences for certain cooker types could be established to form the basis for the selection of

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