Constructing clean cookstove stack in Ghana

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Transition to cleaner cooking technologies has the ability to increase economic and environmental benefits, studies have shown that adoption of improved cooking stoves is very low and those who adopt clean cooking stove/ fuels are likely to stack with biomass fuel. The aim of this study was to identify promising “clean stacks” of stoves and fuels that are relevant to household energy needs in middle belt of Ghana. METHODS: A mixed method approach was used in data collection. Ten households who were exclusive users of biomass fuel were randomly selected from the Kintampo Health Demography Surveillance Survey. We used questionnaires to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, household energy needs, stove use, and acceptability of stoves. The stoves that were given to participants were Mimi motos (a forced draft pellet biomass stove), Electric induction, Ethanol stoves and LPG stoves. Fuel was provided at no cost to participants. Each stove was assigned to the households for a period of two weeks, one after the other. After the single technology assessment, two most preferred stoves were given back to participants to use simultaneously for a period of one month. During this one-month period, participants exposure to PM2.5 were assessed. RESULTS:LPG and Ethanol stoves were the two most preferred stoves. The participants noted inconveniences and numerous mechanical and operational difficulties with the mimi moto and the electric stove. Induction electric stove recorded a mean reading of 0.10 volts Forty-eight-hour personal PM2.5 assessed during the clean stack period was slightly higher with mean concentration of 10.82 μg/m3 (0.54) compared to WHO guideline (10 μg/m3), but was substantially lower than baseline. CONCLUSIONS:Of the four stoves tested, participants expressed satisfaction with LPG stove and Ethanol stove as it met their daily energy needs. Adoption and acceptability of the improved stoves varied with different dishes or cooking tasks. KEYWORDS: clean fuel stack, exposure assessment, Ghana