Assessment of Parabolic Solar Cooker as Alternative Cooking Fuel and Users’ Perception towards it in Beldangi Refugee Camp, Damak

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of Solar Cooker (SK-14) in Beldangi Refugee camp, Damak, Nepal and its contribution towards the sustainability. A questionnaire survey in user’s household was conducted to assess the user’s attitudes and field sample survey was conducted for the assessment of the saved amount of biomass and fuel related CO2emission compare to baseline cooking technology.

Solar cooker has been used for cooking purpose along with solid biomass as briquette coal and fuel wood. According to the survey data the average numbers of hours using solar cooker is about 4 hour (3.95) per day,663 hrs in a year as average number of days using solar cooker is 46 days in per 100 days. Among these facts 74 % of respondent’s family uses daily, 22% respondent’s family uses occasionally and rest 4% are not using due to partial damage or lack of space. The user’s expressed their satisfactions regarding the operation of SK-14, found to have 11% excellent, 55% goods, 17% satisfactory, 11% poor and 6% very poor performance.

The amount of heat energy contributed by the SK- 14 throughout the year is 1068.1 MJ for the cooking (average 663 hrs as effective operating hours in a year) with average power of 430watt. Again the amount of CO2 emission reduction by one solar cooker in one year is found to be 3.906 tons if baseline cooking technology is traditional cook, which is equivalent to 1065.95 kg of fuelwood. Similarly, the amount of CO2 emission reduction when improved cook stove is found to be 1.953 tons per year per solar cooker and this is equivalent to 532.75kg of fuel wood.