Evaluation of usage and fuel savings of solar ovens in Nicaragua |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia;2. Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi Selangor, Malaysia;1. College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, PR China;2. College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shanghai JianQiao University, Shanghai, PR China;1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mohamed Sathak Polytechnic Kilakarai, Tamil Nadu 623806, India;2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College, Anna University, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu 623501, India;3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Syed Ammal Engineering College, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu 623501, India;1. Departamento de Física Aplicada I, Escuela de Ingeniería de Bilbao, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, Plaza Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1, 48013 Bilbao, Spain;2. Departamento de Física Aplicada I, Escuela Universitaria de Ingeniería de Vitoria-Gasteiz, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, Nieves Cano 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain |
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| Abstract: | Solar cooking technology has been promoted as a solution to both global poverty and environmental degradation, but relatively little research exists on the impact of solar oven usage on biomass fuel consumption. This study evaluates solar oven usage and wood consumption in northern Nicaragua during both the rainy and dry seasons, using surveys, temperature dataloggers, and direct measurements of fuelwood use. Solar oven owners reported usage on 79% of days during the dry season, and 41% of days during the rainy season. Comparison with oven temperature records confirmed usage on 50% of days during the dry season, and 16% of days during the rainy season. However, wood consumption measurements showed no statistically significant difference between days with solar oven usage and days without, suggesting that frequency of usage alone is not an appropriate proxy for fuel savings. Survey results suggest that a large part of solar oven usage came in addition to biomass cooking, as opposed to replacing it. These results suggest a need for further study of wood consumption in situ and more focus on the specific kinds of foods prepared in solar cookers, as well as local cultural and climatic conditions. |
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| Keywords: | Solar cooking Carbon mitigation Sustainable development Latin America |
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