Cooking Energy Use Research Articles

Spatial evolution of global household clean cooking energy transition: Convergent clubs and drivers

An understanding of the spatial evolution of global household energy and its determinants is needed to achieve global access to clean cooking energy before 2030. Based on a novel global household energy database, we adopt the log t regression test to identify the global trend and find the potential convergent clubs. Besides, we utilize Random Forest method and Ordered Probit model to investigate the drivers affecting the club convergence. As a result: (1) The global sample exhibits divergence from 2000 to 2020; (2) The 191 countries and regions can be classified into 3 convergent clubs, characterized by significant disparities in both the mean and growth rate of their access to clean energy; (3) Per capita GDP, urbanization level, infrastructure development, and educational attainment are identified as the most important factors influencing the club convergence; (4) Countries with a higher level of socio-economic development generally have a higher proportion of residents using clean fuels, with gas energy playing a pivotal role in driving this transformation. This paper adds more evidence to understand the disparity of global household cooking energy use, we propose that economic and infrastructure development, education attainment, and international cooperation are favorable.

Cooking Energy Systems and their Effect on Environmental Sustainability in Dodoma, Tanzania: A Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) Synthesis

Consumption of energy for various uses including cooking, has various effects on the welfare of the environment. In developing countries where the majority rely on traditional biomass, cooking energy systems entail multiple disruptions to environmental sustainability. The objective of this paper is to integrate the prevailing cooking energy use systems of Dodoma region and environmental sustainability. The study uses the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework to synthesize the two circumstances. Two sites, one rural and one urban were selected for data collection. The study adopted a case study design. Mixed methods were used to gather and analyze the data. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were employed in the selection of the respondents. The target population was the households. The sample size constitutes 210 households. Methods of data collection included survey, in-depth interview, focus group discussion and non-participant observation. Semi structure questionnaires, interview guides and focus group discussion Results reveal a significant proportion of the population (72.4%) using biomass energy for cooking. Disaggregated data expose the rural setting to have relatively higher proportions (89. %) as opposed to the urban (53.1%). The study further noted that persistent use of biomass energy is influenced by availability, accessibility, and affordability. Moreover, many households have been using inefficient stoves which lead to the consumption of large quantities of energy. A transition from firewood to charcoal in the rural area, and a thriving charcoal business in the urban have contributed to the clearance of forests and chopping off huge trees in the rural (the source area). These have led to the gradual disappearance of certain tree species. The study found no deliberate efforts at the individual or community level to restore environmental sustainability despite all the alarming indicators. Even though there are institutional frameworks, it was very hard to establish the duties and responsibilities of the institutions regarding the responses. The study concludes that there is a long way to go before biomass energy is abandoned, therefore individuals, communities and the government to take action to safeguard the environment for the benefit of the current and future generations.

Impact of randomly assigned “pay-as-you-go” liquefied petroleum gas prices on energy use for cooking: Experimental pilot evidence from rural Rwanda

The disease burden related to air pollution from traditional solid-fuel cooking practices in low- and middle-income countries impacts millions of people globally. Although the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel for cooking can meaningfully reduce household air pollution concentrations, major barriers, including affordability and accessibility, have limited widespread adoption. Using a randomized controlled trial, our objective was to evaluate the association between the cost and use of LPG among 23 rural Rwandan households. We provided a 2-burner LPG stove with accessories and incorporated a “pay-as-you-go” (PAYG) LPG service model that included fuel delivery. PAYG services remove the large up-front cost of cylinder refills by integrating “smart meter” technology that allows participants to pay in incremental amounts, as needed. We assigned three randomized discounted prices for LPG to each household at ∼4-week intervals over a 12-week period. We modeled the relationship between randomized PAYG LPG price and use (standardized to monthly periods), analyzing effect modification by relative household wealth. A 1000 Rwandan Franc (about 1 USD at the time of the study) increase in LPG price/kg was associated with a 4.1 kg/month decrease in use (95 % confidence interval [CI]: −6.7, −1.6; n = 69 observations). Wealth modified this association; we observed a 9.7 kg/month reduction (95 % CI: −14.8, −4.5) among wealthier households and a 2.5 kg/month reduction (95 % CI: −5.3, 0.3) among lower-wealth households (p-interaction = 0.01). The difference in price sensitivity was driven by higher LPG use among wealthier households at more heavily discounted prices; from an 80 % to 10 % discount, wealthy households used 17.5 to 5.3 kg/month and less wealthy households used 6.2 to 3.1 kg/month. Our pilot-level experimental evidence of PAYG LPG in a rural low-resource setting suggests that further exploration of subsidized pricing varied by household wealth is needed to ensure future policy initiatives can achieve targets without exacerbating inequities.

Assessment of Biomass Energy Potential for Biogas Technology Adoption and Its Determinant Factors in Rural District of Limmu Kossa, Jimma, Ethiopia

Increasing clean energy access for the rural population of developing countries is a priority to meet the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals-Zero hunger and affordable modern/clean energy for all. Similarly, to meet this goal, Ethiopia moved towards the development of renewable energy. However, there is a limited knowledge on the biomass energy potential for biogas technology adoption at the local/district level. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the biomass energy potential for biogas technology adoption and its determinant factors among rural households in Limmu Kossa district, Ethiopia. Data was collected from 411 households from 13–24 June 2021. The quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical software Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23 and Microsoft Word-Excel. The qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. The study showed that over 96% of households rely on the traditional use of biomass energy for cooking. Nevertheless, on average, about 1 m3 of biogas energy can be potentially available from livestock dung and human excreta per household per day. However, the huge potential of biomass energy did not contribute to improved energy technologies such as biogas. The adoption of biogas is hampered by the non-functionality of the installed biogas, a lack of awareness, the availability of firewood, and the socio-economic characteristics of the households. Thus, improving the awareness of the community, arranging financial access, and training biogas technicians, especially from the local community, would increase the adoption of the technology. However, meeting the digester water demand with the water collected from the walking distances of 15–20 min can be challenging. Community-based biogas digesters or biogas involving income generation with a water supply around the digester would be a better and more sustainable option for biogas energy adoption and use.

Determinants of Household Energy Use for Cooking in Tanzania

Abstract This article aims to examine determinants that influence the choice of energy fuel for cooking among households in Tanzania mainland. The study employed descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse data from the 2017/18 Tanzania Household Budget Survey. Regarding the main source of energy used for cooking descriptive statistics revealed that the majority (66.5%) of the households use firewood for cooking and 24.6% use charcoal while only 8.8% use other (non-biomass fuels). This indicates that the majority (91.1%) relies on traditional fuel(biomass) for Cooking in Tanzania. Based on Inferential statistics, the chi-square test found that all independent variables except Marital status and income variables were statistically significant predictors of the study dependent variable in Tanzania at a 5 per cent significant level. On the other hand, multinomial logistic model results showed that households with few members, younger heads, male-headed, not employed heads, heads having a higher level of education, located in urban and married heads were less likely to use firewood and charcoal as the main fuel type for cooking than the other types of energy such as electricity, kerosene, industrial gas, coal, generator, and solar. The researcher recommends the use of these findings in formulating appropriate policies to improve access to affordable modern energy to lessen the environmental and health impact of biomass energy use. Keywords: Households Traditional energy, Modern Energy fuel, Multinomial Logistic Model

Does internet use promote clean energy use for cooking by women-headed rural households in China?

Using the China Family Panel Studies, this study examined the effect of internet use on women-headed rural households' clean energy use with the Probit model and examined the mechanism of action of this effect. The results found that women-headed rural households were more likely to use clean energy than male-headed households. Furthermore, internet access greatly facilitated women-headed rural household use of clean energy. The mechanism analysis found that internet use expands residents' access to information, engages participation in off-farm employment, enhances the frequency of social interaction, and thus leads to clean energy use in women-headed rural households.

Impact of energy affordability on the decision-making of rural households in ecologically fragile areas of Northwest China regarding clean energy use

BackgroundHighly carbonized energy use in ecologically fragile areas of Northwest China seriously endangers the health of residents and the ecological environment. However, poor energy affordability remains a major obstacle to the promotion of clean energy use in rural households in this region.MethodsBased on survey data of 1118 households in ecologically fragile areas of Northwest China, this study constructed a household-level database of energy use, measured energy affordability in two dimensions: endogenous income (annual per capita household income) and external inputs (government energy subsidies). It uses logistic and threshold regression to empirically test the impact, threshold, and heterogeneity of energy affordability on the decision-making of rural households regarding clean energy use for cooking, heating, and heating water.Results(1) The energy use structures of rural households in different ecologically fragile areas differ because of different household characteristics. (2) Energy affordability affects cooking significantly more than it affects heating and subsidy growth is a stronger incentive than income growth. Moreover, for both cooking and heating, energy affordability has a greater impact on electricity use than on gas use. (3) The thresholds for energy transformation for heating are greater than those for cooking and heating water. When the subsidy increases by 2400 yuan/year, heating can catch up to other types of use, whereas, based on the current level of income growth, it requires more than 5 years. (4) This effect is higher in high-income, purely agricultural, highly educated, young, and middle-aged households.ConclusionsPromoting the use of clean energy in rural households only by increasing income will be a slow process. Subsidies should be used to accelerate this process by improving the energy affordability of rural households and a compensation policy should be implemented considering the energy types and periods. Taking into account the differences in the basic characteristics of rural households in different ecologically fragile areas, clean energy policies should be adopted from various perspectives to better leverage the enhancement effect of energy affordability.

Thermal Performance of a Mechanical Thermostat for Charging an Energy Storage System

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems enhance the use of solar energy for cooking by matching the energy demand to its supply. Useful energy is extracted from TES systems that are thermally stratified and this is enhanced when charged at an averagely constant-temperature. This paper presents an experimental analysis of a mechanical-thermostat used to control the charging of an oil based TES system. The thermostat consisted of a slider-valve, an expansion-system acting both as a thermal-sensor and actuator, and an adjusting-knob for setting the charging temperature. Oil from a cold-oil reservoir flows by gravity into a heating-chamber when a manual valve is opened. In the heating-chamber, the oil is heated causing the oil to expand triggering the opening of the slider-valve at a preset temperature. This allows the hot-oil to flow into the TES system at the set temperature. The thermostat was demonstrated for charging a TES system at preset temperatures of 116 °C, 150 °C, 200 °C and 230 °C. The volume of hot-oil delivered into a TES tank decreased with increasing charging temperature. The observed temperature variations were minimized by reducing the oil flow-rate using a valve hence achieving a fairly stable charging temperature.

A geospatial approach to understanding clean cooking challenges in sub-Saharan Africa

Universal clean cooking is a key target under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, with implications for several other SDGs, such as good health, gender equality and climate. Yet, 2.4 billion people globally still lack access to clean cooking. The situation is especially dire in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where only 17% use clean options. We develop OnStove, an open-source spatial tool comparing the relative potential of different cookstoves on the basis of their costs and benefits, and apply it to SSA. Our results suggest a severe market failure as the currently most used solution, traditional biomass, produces the lowest social net-benefits nearly everywhere in SSA. Correcting this failure, which stems from multiple market and behavioural obstacles, would deliver significant health, time and emission benefits but requires identification and promotion of policies to transform cooking energy use. Spatial mapping offers a more nuanced understanding of the costs needed to deliver cleaner cooking transitions than was previously possible, which is useful for improved targeting of intervention strategies.

Did COVID-19 Change the Availability and Use of Clean Energy for Cooking? Evidence From Ghana.

A major part of Ghana's current household energy policy is focused on using a branded cylinder recirculation model (BCRM) to promote the safe use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for primary cooking. The implementation of the BCRM is expected to increase LPG adoption by households to the announced policy goal of 50% of the population by 2030. We investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of the BCRM, availability, and household use of cleaner fuels. This was assessed using existing data on clean fuel use prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional data was collected using questionnaire-based household surveys and qualitative interviews. It was found that the expansion of BCRM was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning activities such as baseline data collection and stakeholder engagement were delayed due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Changes in household incomes during the pandemic had the biggest percentage effect on household choice of cooking fuel, causing a regression in some cases, to polluting fuel use. This study provides insights that could be valuable in future understanding of the interactions between pandemic control measures and economic disruptions that may affect household energy choices for cooking.

Іncreasing the efficiency of the use of natural gas in household gas stoves

In Ukraine, about a third of the energy is obtained from burning gas (about 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year). More than half of this amount of gas is burned in the communal household sector, which includes the population. The largest number of devices intended for burning gas are installed in the population and are household gas stoves used for cooking. The total consumption of gas used by these devices makes up the main part of the gas used in the country in the summer period of the year. In connection with the significant increase in the price of energy carriers and the transition to paying for gas in units of energy, the issue of energy-efficient gas consumption is becoming more and more relevant. In this work, an analysis of the study of the use of gas at different pressures in domestic gas stoves is carried out. A comparison of the efficiency of gas use compared to the use of electrical energy is made. It has been determined that the optimal pressure in front of the gas stove burner, at which combustion has the most economical effect, is 2400 Pa. At this pressure, compared to electrical energy, efficiency increases by 20.8%. When the gas pressure deviates from 2400 Pa, there is a decrease in combustion efficiency, and at a pressure of 1800, the use of natural gas becomes economically impractical (compared to the use of electrical energy for cooking). Combustion of gas, ensuring the necessary completeness of combustion, has a positive effect on the environment as a result of reducing the content of carbon monoxide both in the indoor air of kitchens and in the environment of populated areas. Increasing the energy efficiency of burning natural gas will lead to a decrease in its consumed amount, and as a result, will positively affect the amount of payment for consumed gas, reduce the need for it and increase the level of energy independence of the state.

Promoting rural households' energy use for cooking: Using Internet

Clean energy is expected to both reduce carbon emissions and enhance well-being, and ‘Internet + energy consumption’ has become a key to facilitating the transformation of energy use for cooking among Chinese farmers. However, few studies have analyzed the relationship between the two based on large-scale micro-data systems. Based on data from the China Labor Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) for 2012, 2014, and 2016, a conditional mixed estimation method (CMP) was used to empirically analyze the impact of Internet use on farmers' clean energy use for cooking, and a mediation effect method was used to further analyze its mechanism of action. The results found that (1) between 2012 and 2016, the energy mix of farmers' cooking was gradually optimized and the proportion of clean energy use increased significantly. (2) Internet use can significantly promote the use of clean energy for cooking by expanding social networks, affecting the use of clean energy for others in social networks and improving the stability of non-farm employment. (3) After considering the health level of farmers and regional heterogeneity, the promotion effect still exists, but farmers with higher health levels and located in the eastern region can better use the Internet to achieve household clean energy conversion. This study is helpful to understand the changes of farmers' cooking energy decisions in the Internet era.

The determinants of energy choice for household cooking in China

The use of household solid energy for cooking is a key factor of environmental health risk. China still has a large share of households relying on solid fuels as a primary source of energy. Clarifying the determinants that drive energy choice in China's households is fundamental to promote household energy transition. We integrate the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm and multinomial Logit model into identifying the determinants of energy choice for household cooking in China by the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data. The economic situation is an important factor of household cooking energy transition. Household expenditure is more important than household income. Income is an important factor, but the influence of off-farm employment is more important than income. Higher levels of health and household heads with children are more inclined to use clean energy. The education level of household head, living conditions, and the accessibility and affordability of energy are important factors of energy choice for household cooking. Our study expands the literature on the determinants of energy choice for household cooking and provides valuable supports for policy formulation of household cooking energy transition in China.

Solar cooking innovations, their appropriateness, and viability.

The successful use of solar energy for cooking requires the systems adopted not only to have technical attributes that conveniently address specific cooking requirements but also are socially and economically acceptable to its end-users. When displacing cooking fuels used in developing countries, solar cooking can lead to (i) improved health in children and women, (ii) less local forest degradation, (iii) less local pollution, and (iv) lower contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions. The diverse range of thermal and photovoltaic solar cooking systems available, or under development, in different regions of the world is discussed in the present work. Particular attention is given to the social, cultural, and economic factors that have limited adoption of solar cookers. Technical developments that address these limitations are shown to only be effective when they facilitate traditional ways of cooking particular foods in and at desired times in specific climates.

Cooking energy use in Bangladesh: Evidence from technology and fuel choice

This study explores the socioeconomic determinants of energy poverty in clean cooking in Bangladesh, through analyzing the factors that determine the choice of cleaner cook stoves and cooking fuels among different segments of the population. Ordered probit and ordered logit models are used to analyze a country wide dataset from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, to estimate the strength of influence of household characteristics on these choices. It was found that houses with more ventilation facilities tend to use less clean fuels and more primitive forms of stoves, whereas rented houses use cleaner fuels and technologies. Households with female or older heads have lower use of cleaner cooking solutions. Larger households use cleaner cooking less, but households with more and younger children use cleaner cooking more. Household wealth positively relates to choice of cleaner cooking solutions. Higher education and greater electricity access do not necessarily lead to movement up the cooking energy and technology ladder. Urban areas use cleaner cooking solutions more, as does the capital city area compared to other locations. Increasing the distribution of cleaner fuels and stoves across rural regions and among lower income communities is recommended for achieving the national clean cooking target. .

COMPARISON OF EFFICIENCY AND CARBON EMISSIONS OF FILAMENT ELECTRIC STOVES AND INDUCTION ELECTRIC STOVES

Issues related to energy sustainability and carbon emission reduction are continuously being concerned by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. Various efforts and programs have been launched to achieve targets of the related issues. As known that energy use for cooking by the household is continuously increasing in relation to population growth that will of course increase in energy need which relates to the sustainability of presence energy and carbon emission. Accordingly, the LPG stove conversion program to an electric stove was introduced in order to achieve the target to solve such issues. This paper compared of efficiency and carbon emissions of both electric filament stoves and induction stoves. The result indicated that the induction stove has better efficiency compared with the electric stove. The study also was proved that the carbon emissions for both types of stoves were relatively low in comparison with LPG stoves. However, the enormous operational power of the induction stove is still a challenge that must be resolved to achieve the target of energy sustainability in Indonesia.

The Transition in Household Energy Use for Cooking in India: Evidence from a Longitudinal Survey

This article seeks to assess the transition in household energy use for cooking in India based on data from two rounds of the India Human Development Survey in 2004–2005 and 2011–2012. In this study, we have used the multinomial logistic regression and Multiple Classification Analysis conversion model to assess the transition in household energy use according to the socio-economic characteristics of households. Our findings suggest that although the transition from solid fuel to clean fuel is universal across households, it is greater among the socio-economically better-off households than their poorer counterparts. The use of solid fuel for cooking was more prevalent among the socio-economically disadvantaged households than among their socio-economically better-off counterparts in both 2004–2005 and 2011–2012. Convergence in clean cooking fuel use across the households can be possible only when socio-economically disadvantaged households progress faster than their already better-off counterparts. JEL Codes: B5, C23, D31, I3, Q5

Twenty years of climate policy: G20 coverage and gaps

ABSTRACT The number and coverage of climate change mitigation policies have increased in the past twenty years, but important policy adoption gaps remain. To analyse sectoral climate policy in the G20 over time (2000–2019), we compiled a dataset of climate change mitigation-relevant policies and identified 50 key policy options that constitute a comprehensive sectoral climate policy package. Approximately half of these policy options are not widely adopted. Adoption is particularly low for policies that aim to: phase out coal and oil and mandate energy reductions in electricity and heat supply; reduce industrial process emissions and incentivise fuel switch in industry; design urban planning strategies for retrofits; and support the use of renewable energy for cooking and heating/cooling purposes in buildings. Policies to remove fossil fuel subsidies and support carbon dioxide removal also need substantial improvement. However, many policy adoption gaps exist as the coverage of at least one policy option could be improved in each sector. Policy adoption gaps leave at least one-tenth of the G20’s emissions completely uncovered. Filling these gaps is fundamental to realize the full mitigation potential of existing policy options and to advance the transition towards global net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Key policy insights Mitigation-related policy options can be presented as a matrix by sector to shed light on what constitutes a comprehensive climate policy package; looking across sectoral climate policies helps to unpack and clarify the status of adoption. Policy adoption gaps exist in all sectors. Increasing the sectoral coverage of climate policies will help to ensure that all relevant sectoral emissions and mitigation areas are considered in national mitigation efforts. Even if an increase in policy coverage alone does not ensure emission reductions, the absence of policy coverage indicates that emissions can still be further reduced and that a portion of global emissions remain uncovered by policies. Despite the observed increase in the number and coverage of climate policies, slow progress towards reducing global emissions and meeting the collective Paris climate goals calls for more comprehensive climate change mitigation policies. Filling policy adoption gaps presents a concrete strategy to improve sectoral, national and global climate policy.

Influence of the Socio-Economic Profile of the Head of Household on Domestic Energy Use for Cooking in the City of Uíge, Angola

The city of Uíge, capital of the province of Uíge in northern Angola, presents a diversity of lifestyles, socio-economic levels and domestic energy sources for cooking. The present study aimed to identify the different domestic energy sources used in cooking operations in households in the city of Uíge, both in urban and peri-urban areas, as well as the reasons for their choice. By means of a semi-structured survey, 384 heads of households residing in three neighborhoods of the city of Uíge were interviewed, 96 (Kituma), 192 (Papelão) and 96 (Popular No. 1). The majority of households in the city of Uíge are headed by men (75%), 77% in Papelão; 78% in Popular No. 1; 69% in Kituma. 98% of the men are literate, the majority having attended junior or senior-high school (50%) and higher education (34%). Only 84% of female heads of household are literate, 30% have attended junior-high school and 22% adult education. In addition, the majority (55%) of households in the city of Uíge use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cooking. LPG is the main source of domestic energy for public servants (79%) and traders (66%) in the city of Uíge. Firewood is the main (54%) source of domestic energy used by small farmer households. But, 79% of households headed by university students cook mainly with LPG. In addition, 67% of heads of households with senior-high school and 41% with junior-high school use LPG as their main source of household energy. On the other hand, about 60% of illiterate people use wood as their main source of energy. In contrast, none of the head of households with higher education level use firewood to prepare food. Moreover 68% of the respondents’ grill or roast with charcoal because it gives a better taste to the food and 25% of the respondents do so because of culinary or cultural habits. Charcoal is the main energy source (89%) for grilling and roasting. Households that cook with charcoal and firewood spend US$ 59.63 per month compared to US$ 13.24 for those who use LPG. Making modern commercial energy equipment available to all Angolan households would help low-income and poorly educated households to use the clean, modern energy they crave for cooking. Econometric studies should be conducted to estimate the correlation between household energy consumption and the number of inhabitants per household, for example.

Stable energy, energy inequality, and climate change vulnerability in Pan-Third Pole regions: Empirical analysis in cross-national rural areas

Climate change-induced extreme weather and disasters have caused severe productivity and life losses, particularly in economically and ecologically vulnerable areas. Tackling climate change in these areas is a critical issue. Energy stability and equal energy distribution are crucial for improving the ability of households to adapt to climate change. However, there has been little research on factors influencing energy stability and inequality at the micro level in economically and ecologically vulnerable areas. Taking the Pan-Third Pole regions as an example, this study used a cross-national household dataset for 2018, which included information from 1060 households in 37 sample villages distributed in 5 countries, to assess the status of energy stability, inequality, and climate change vulnerability. The results showed that cooking energy use has shifted toward a more stable energy-dependent pattern, although there is still room for improvement. Education level of the household head, non-agricultural level, and income were the significant factors influencing stable energy use and focal points for increasing stable energy use. The inequality level was more severe in economically less-developed regions, and providing commercialized energy access to households is effective in reducing energy inequality. Increasing the education level, extracting labor from agriculture activities, increasing household income, and providing essential energy infrastructures could effectively improve stable energy use and reduce energy inequality, leading to climate change adaptation. The study extends its significance in exploring cross-country climate change adaptation measures from an energy perspective, providing insights for climate change-related research and practice in other vulnerable regions.