Experience with improved charcoal and wood stoves for households and institutions in Kenya
Efforts at promoting more fuel-efficient charcoal stoves to replace traditional charcoal stoves in Kenya offer some lessons for the dissemination of appropriate technologies. This paper looks at the market-based approach which has made the Kenyan charcoal stoves project a success. Trends in woodfuels (wood and charcoal) consumption in Kenya are identified; the traditional technology for charcoal combustion and the upgraded traditional technologies are described; production achievement and the dissemination and promotion strategy used are examined; and a financial and economic analysis is performed with social, health and environmental effects assessed. Other ways to achieve a more favourable balance between woodfuels consumption and supply are then discussed looking at more efficient charcoal kilns and household woodstoves, improved institutional stoves and increased wood production. The replication potential of the Kenya experiment in other countries is also explored. The lessons learnt from the the Kenya experience concern the relationship between technology, choice and delivery systems as they interact with, economic, institutional, and policy factors. In this case, the design work accepted the traditional technology as a starting point which helped ensure widespread acceptance by households. The potential desirability of relying on local artisans to manufacture consumer durables using existing private sector channels to market these goods is also shown. It also highlights the importance of going beyond a laissez-faire approach and supporting training, demonstration, and publicity to faciliate the workings of the private sector. In the Kenyan case, technology choice was relatively unsubsidized and left ot the preferences of consumers.
- OSTI ID:
- 6600869
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CHARCOAL
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
KENYA
WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WOOD FUELS
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
COMBUSTION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY POLICY
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
STOVES
ADSORBENTS
AFRICA
APPLIANCES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
OXIDATION
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
090400* - Solid Waste & Wood Fuels- (-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
299003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation- Other- (-1989)
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation