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ADES Fuel-Efficient Rocket Stoves Introduced at Marojejy National Park
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found three types of locally made charcoal stoves for sale on the streets of Sambava. "Fatana Mitsitsy" (translation:
frugal cook stove) are the most fuel-efficient of the three but are not durable (only lasting up to 5 months) and are
difficult to make as they require clay, metal, and cement. At 7,000 AR each ($3.30 USD) they are moderately priced.
"Rechaud" (translation: camping stove) are the
longest lasting (up to 7 years) but are also the
most expensive at 35,000 AR ($16.60 USD) and
not considered very fuel efficient. They are also
difficult to produce since metal from abandoned
ocean ships is needed which must then be
welded to produce the stove. "Fantana
Tole" (translation: stove made from roofing sheet
metal) is the least expensive at 3,500 AR ($1.60
USD) and easily produced from locally obtained
metal roofing, but these stoves only last a few
months and are not fuel efficient.
Though the locally made stoves are fuel
efficient to some degree, they do not exhibit a
rocket-stove design, and are not as durable as we
would like. It was decided to bring in from
Antananarivo stoves made by the Swiss based
organization ADES (Association pour le
Développement de l'Energie Solaire) which has been making excellent fuel-efficient stoves since 2010 (see photo
above). Comprised of a fired clay combustion chamber, an aluminum lid and a sheet metal shell, they are long lasting
and reduce the amount of wood or charcoal needed to cook by an estimated 65%. In my opinion, these are the most
well made fuel-efficient stoves in Madagascar. Our cooks in Marojejy also are unanimous in their support for these
stoves (which are now the only stoves used at the three main tourist/research camps) and impressed with how well
they stay hot with only small amounts of charcoal. The WWF also recognized the quality and benefits of these stoves
and has recently formed a close partnership with ADES in Tulear. ADES is also a leader in promoting solar ovens in
Madagascar and maintains offices in a number of cities such as Antananarivo, Tulear, Morondava and Mahajanga
among others. The founder of ADES, Regula Ochsner, has received a number of international environmental awards
for her work such as the 'Brandenburg Prize' and the 'Women of Earth' award.
SAVA Conservation is working to find a way to make the ADES stoves, with their numerous environmental and
health advantages, more widely available in the SAVA region.
References
Jetter JJ and Kariher P (2009). Solid-fuel household cook stoves: Characterization of performance and emissions.
Biomass and Bioenergy
33: 294 - 305.
MacCarty N, Still D, Ogle D, et al. (2008). A laboratory comparison of the global warming impact of five major types of
biomass cooking stoves.
Energy for Sustainable Development
12(2): 5 -14.
World Health Organization, Rehfuess E, (2006). Fuel for life: Household energy and health.
WWF (2012). Diagnostic du secteur énergie à Madagascar.
ADES rocket stoves for wood or charcoal.
Photo courtesy of ADES