Product Description: Solar cookers are made form aluminum sheets and other metal products, such as copper and steel. The cookers have a shape of “Satellite-dish” that receives the sun’s heat and collects it. The collected heat is transferred to a stove made from steel and installed behind the transparent (satellite dish- shape device). The sun’s heat collected by the heat collector heats the stove, and after a few minutes cooking takes place. The cooking is done outside the house wearing special eye-glasses and a hat to protect the eyes of the cook from the sun’s radiation.
Rationale: The sun is the most powerful source of energy. Nowadays solar energy has become increasingly an attractive source of energy because of its free and inexhaustible supply, and its non-pollution characters which are in stark contrast to fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, and firewood. However, the most widely used fuels for cooking in Ethiopia are firewood and cooking gas, such as kerosene. In big cities and some other areas, electricity is also used for cooking purpose. Because of this, the demand for firewood and cooking gas is steadily increasing form time to time. The soaring price of cooking gas and the continued tariff increase in electricity has forced people to use more firewood, which in turn has led to serious deforestation that has already passed a grave threat on the environment. This is also true in the Amhara Region, which is one of the seriously affected areas in the country because of deforestation and environmental imbalance.
Even though the initial investment cost (purchase of the solar cookers) may be high, to reduce reliance on the above mentioned sources of energy for cooking purposes, the use of solar cooker, as one of the alternative energy source is an important issue for the Region.
Market Potential: There are many users of solar cookers in the country, including non-governmental organizations, Embassies, other diplomatic communities, and some households, mainly in Addis Ababa. However, there are only a few plants in the country in this regard, one of them being solar Bereket. If the benefit of solar cookers is properly introduced to the people, no doubt the product will have sufficient market in the Region as well as in other regions.
Sources of Raw Materials: The main raw materials for the production of solar cookers are aluminum sheets which are imported from countries, like France. Other raw materials, such as steel and copper products are available in the domestic market.
Production Process & Technology: The production process involves collection of raw materials, such as aluminum sheets prepared for the purpose, steel and copper (wire). Then a typical active, and “satellite dish-shaped” plate with transparent aluminum sheets facing the sum is made. A blackened metal plate is also prepared at the back of the plate. A stove made of steel is connected with the blackened plate that transfers the sun’s heat from the heat collector (the dish) to the stove.
Estimated Investment cost: The plant will require a minimum area of 400 square meters, and its cost will be about Birr 120,000 (assuming Birr 300 per square meter). The cost of machinery and plant will be about Birr 1,500,000. The estimated total investment cost will be therefore, be Birr 1,620,000.
Benefits: The introduction of the solar cooker in the Region will decrease reliance on petroleum products (such as kerosene), fire wood and electricity for cooking. It will decrease the rate of deforestation and the threat on the environment. It will create employment opportunity for the people of the Region. It will introduce new the production in the form of profit. Revenue will be generated for the Regional Government in the form of income tax and VAT. It will save foreign currency particularly that is spent for importing petroleum products.
Location: Possible locations will Bahir Dar, Desie, Gondar and Desie, DebreBirhane.