What is To Be Done for ISECookers in Uganda

We started our project with the goal of exploring insulation access in Northern Africa with the hopes of improving accessibility. However, we quickly learned that, at least for Andrew and ASEI, that insulation access was not a major priority. While in the past it used to make up 60% of the final cost, Andrew has found a new fiberglass supplier that costs about ~$12.2 USD per ISECooker. However, generally exporting is not common in Uganda because of heavy taxes. So, without a large market for ISECookers in Northern Africa, it is not worthwhile for the supplier to export.

Meanwhile, insulation access is a larger priority for Martin, founder of SolCook in Ghana, and Pete. Due to the exporting restrictions in Uganda, the accessibility in Uganda cannot be easily expanded to Martin without a sizable market. Pete has suggested the potential of starting an insulation production business in fiberglass or some other effective insulation alternative in Northern Africa to facilitate access. Our team's analysis is that there needs to be a closer analysis of import and export costs in Northern Africa nations to determine the viability. On a national scale however, fiberglass production may be more feasible.

In general though, a cost of $12.2 USD per ISECooker for insulation is still a heavy cost. By reducing the cost of insulation, this could allow for increased flexibility towards other designs issues the ASEI design is facing, such as the top frame and the corrosion of the heating element. If one were to go down the route of establishing a fiberglass production business in Uganda or Northern Africa, we've collected some resources that may help:

• Cost of Starting an Insulation Manufacturing Industry

• Overview of the Production Process of Glass Wool with Videos

• The Manufacturing Process of Fiberglass and Additional Reading Materials

Fiberglass production requires machinery that can produce high temperatures of up to 1400 °C for the molten glass and is spin the molten glass at high speeds to create the fiber from centrifugal forces. This can introduce high upfront costs for any fiberglass production business. Several of the raw materials required for the production of glass wool insulation can be sourced from recycled or waste glass.

The work pipeline for Andrew and ASEI remains focused on engineering a viable design that suits the needs of the people in Uganda with the ultimate goal of scaling up production to disseminate ISECookers to the Rwenzori region and other parts of the country. They are still in the pilot stage and are not yet confident to go into full production.

Some design issues that would make good PSC 392 projects include:

• Corrosion and degradation of the heating element that limits their lifetime to 3-5 months. Heating element using reclaimed aluminum sourced locally materials that aren’t as durable and have defects.

  • Heating element doesn't compromise the whole ISEC and can be easily replaced, however this could impact adoption.

  • NiCr wire solution used in Nepal (see Pete's blog on May 7th) could be viable, but NiCr wire is not accessible in Uganda.

  • Importing NiCr from China is expensive.

• Top frame design is currently made out of wood which is frequently subjected to moist environments when cooking and is not structurally sound (cracks after many cycles).

  • The goal is a thermal insulated top frame that is easily cleanable and structurally sound.

  • Concrete mesh design could be viable and is accessible (three concrete producing facilities according to Andrew).

    • The mesh is not as heavy as concrete itself.

    • Properties of soaking condensate depend on the cement type and mix.

  • Pete recommends a stainless steel frame

• Users of ISECookers in Uganda have requested the ability to regulate heat while cooking.

  • ASEI is looking for a cheap analog voltage regulator (5 - 48 V).

• Some users of ISECookers did not like the aesthetic look of the frame.

• Adding a USB charging port to ISECooker.

Since Andrew and ASEI are primarily focused on improving the design, there is plenty of work to be done for marketing. They are still in the pilot stage and so they aren't currently advertising the ISECooker design on their website and the different models they plan to offer. As such, they don't have a full plan or content to post. The models are based around how long the user wants to cook for their meals. By producing presentations, videos, and flyers, we can help in promoting and marketing.

Two core criteria important for the Uganda market include:

• How does the technology save costs compared to other methods.

  • Base price $100 USD (~388,394 Ugandan Shillings) for the ISECooker itself.

• Demonstrations of the cooker working.

  • Dispel any connects between insulated solar cooking and the unpopular direct solar cooking method.

Andrew also informed the team to be mindful of the differences between Uganda's rural and urban sectors. In 2019/2020, Uganda conducted a National Household Survey that analyzed these differences. The report can be viewed at this link.