CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Unit to test solar eCooking ecosystems with commercial cooks in Cameroon

By Prof. Daniel Pope, Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, The University of Liverpool.

The CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Unit has secured £30k funding for a pilot study (AHRC and ESRC) to test our solar eCooking ecosystems with commercial cooks in Cameroon. Eight women who roast fish by the main river in Mbalmayo (Central Cameroon) will adopt solar eCooking systems (3WKh battery (and PV panels), 11L EPC, induction stove) to replace their current reliance on mangrove for their commercial activities (cooking fish for sale to customers).  We will be working closely with the Ministries of Energy (MINEE), Health (MINSANTE) and Promotion of Women and the Family (MINPROF).  The participants’ cooking set-up is shown as the featured image and below.  The project is being led by Dr Yan Ding (University of Liverpool).

This pilot has been made possible through the MECS STARSS pilot project we conducted last year with our Chinese partner (AGreatE) whereby we developed the eCooking ecosystem for use by Cameroonian households to meet all cooking needs for an average family.  We are repurposing the equipment for use in these commercial practices. Earlier MECS sponsored research had identified the significant barrier to eCooking in the country from reliance on grid based electricity in Cameroon (see this publication).  Solar represents an exciting cost-effective option for eCooking in Cameroon as an alternative.

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Featured image credit: Dan Pope, University of Liverpool.