Around the world, more people die as a result of cooking over smoky, open fires than from malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS combined. The climate impact of charcoal and firewood burned for cooking is as great as that of the entire aviation industry. Emerging Cooking Solutions has developed a pellet stove and an integrated business model with local pellet production, distribution, customer financing and coal credits. The stove is connected to the internet, can be paid for in instalments, and can be turned off if the user fails to pay.
Our stove was recently cited in the journal Nature, as one of the two pellet stoves in the world that meets the health requirements for “modern cooking”. Each stove saves 4 – 5 tonnes of CO2 per year. The pellet production is based on surplus biomass and is therefore renewable and environmentally sustainable. The system helps to slow the rate of deforestation and develop the economy in the places where it is used. It also saves time and improves both the health and household finances of its users.
We currently have operations in Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi.