[Stoves] [biochar] First report from Phnom Penh

[Ron]

Kevin

   I'll let the manufacturers answer, if they wish.   But the main annual cost is in fuel - not hardware.  High efficiency can count for a lot.  These probably have guarantees for much longer life than the traditional - that also needs to be factored in.  There is also a "pride of ownership" factor.  Also time savings have a time value. 

    If char is produced, a cost like this can be recouped in well less than a year.

   This is a very complicated topic - and these manufacturers seem very competent to not go down a path sure of failure.  I was surprised at the high quality look for the price. 

   There will be demos on Thursday and I'll try to catch reaction to all stoves shown.

Ron





On Mar 19, 2013, at 12:05 AM, "Kevin" <kchisholm at ca.inter.net> wrote:

> 
> 
> Dear Ron
>  
> Thanks for your very interesting report to date on "The Big Event."
>  
> I think that one thing that could be very helpful is a Graph showing " Stove Price" versus "Potential Customers." Clearly, if a person is earning say $1 per day, and the stove cost $70, this would be equivalent to 70 days income. Here in Canada, where the minimum wage is $10 per hour, or $80 per day, a stove costing 70 days income would cost $5,600.
>  
> Or, to look at it from the other direction, "What price would a stove have to sell for, so that 90% of the World's Population could afford to buy it"
>  
> Thanks!
>  
> Kevin
>  
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: rongretlarson at comcast.net
> To: Discussion of biomass ; biochar
> Cc: Priyadarshini Karve ; ,"paul anderson ; Crispin Pemberton-Pigott ; Ruben at ace.co.ls ; adrian at rocketworks.org ; sonta at emerging.se
> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 11:19 AM
> Subject: [biochar] First report from Phnom Penh
> 
>  
> Hi to two lists  (with 6 ccs)
> 
>   1.  This written at end of "first" day of conference.  Actually the official first GACC day is tomorrow, but today was also the second day of pre-conference activities..  List members active on these two lists, here (and shown on the "to" list), who I hope will add more are Priya Karve, Paul Anderson and Crispin Pemberton-Piggott.  I missed the first day - Sunday - returning from Siem Reap  - home of Angkor Wat.   This is definitely the most impressive world heritage site I have seen or could imagine.  Uniformly impressed by the Cambodian people.
> 
>   2.  My overall impression is that very few attendees know much about biochar nor char-making stoves.  Of course most everyone knows something about stoves -  although I would guess that fewer than half have been involved for more than a year or t wo  Heard tonight that there are 650  registrants.  Great conference facilities;  no conference registration fee and fair number of freebie meals, coffee-break treats etc.
> 
>  3.  My first surprise char-making stove encounter was with Sonta Kauti, a Zambian with "Emerging Cooking Solutions"  - whose stove can be seen at www.emerging.se.  I have not yet seen the actual stove, nor yet know its pricing - but plan more talks with Sonta
> 
>   4.  Next was a short encounter with Ruben Walker of "African Clean Energy"  (see http://www.ace.co.ls/), now manufacturing in Lesotho the "Philips" fan stove developed by Paul van der Sluis (PvdS).  This has been identified as having the best performance characteristics so far tested.  This was my first chance to hold one - and it looks exceptionally well made.  A surprise was the set of 10 or 12 (?) flat ceramic liner pieces for the interior (maybe 1 cm thick??).&nb sp; Presumably long life time - being non-metal.   Ruben said one could hold the outside of the stove after an hour of cooking -possible because there are  four concentric metal cylinders (three concentric air gaps).   This stove is not char making - but I remember hearing that PvdS regularly operates it as a charcoal-maker.   Cost in neighborhood of $70.
> 
>  5. Later, at this evening's reception,  Mr. Adrian Padt of "Rocket Works" introduced himself  (see http://www.rocketworks.org/  - including photo of Adrian).  This is the stove with the interesting heavy wire mesh exterior that we discussed a few months ago - also can be held.      This also looked exceptionally well made and rugged.  Cost in the neighborhood of $50.   In addition to the version seen at the site, they are now adding a door to better control excess air.
> 
>   6. I attended a day-long session put on by the World B ank and the Asian Development Bank.- the emphasis was on country organizations in this region.  Crispin was on what I thought the best panel - on testing, etc. This is to hope that Priya,  Paul, and Crispin (and anyone else from these lists here in Phnom Penh) will also add their early summary thoughts.
> 
> Any questions I/we can try to answer?
> 
> Ron
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