Current challenges and future prospect of biomass cooking and heating stoves in Asian Countries

Abstract

The utilization of biomass for cooking and heating is old, occurring from the early stages of human evolution because of its wide and easy availability. In Asia, a majority of the population is dependent on solid biomass for cooking and heating applications. Biomass cookstove produces emissions like carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) which are dependent on the classifications and characteristics of fuel used in stoves. These emissions trigger many health risks because of the utilization of traditional cookstoves (TCS) which have less thermal efficiency. The literature contains a considerable amount of information on biomass cookstoves; however, it is dispersed particularly in Asian countries. In this principle, this paper gives an overview of available literature on biomass cookstoves for cooking and heating in Asian countries which are involving Bangladesh, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Laos. This paper covers a detailed discussion on various aspects of biomass cookstoves: history, classification, fuel characteristics, health risks, design criteria, the scenario in selected Asian countries, thermal efficiency and emission comparison, and barriers to dissemination of improved biomass cookstoves (ICS). Learning from the review and comparison made conclude that the ICS has better thermal efficiency, and lesser emissions, as well as health risks but, have some potential barriers to dissemination.

Performance Analysis of Dhaba Size Improved Biomass Cook Stove for Commercial Application as Clean and Efficient Cooking Solutions

“…The performance evaluation of biomass cook stove involves monitoring the various factors related to its efficiency, gas emissions, safety, and overall effectiveness [3,18,19,[24][25][26]. Performance analysis of Cook stove involves a combination of laboratory testing, field trials, and user surveys.…”

“…According to the Global Burden of Disease 2010 evaluation, household air pollution caused by solid cooking fuels caused approximately 1.04 million premature deaths and 31.4 million disability-adjusted life years in India [8,9] accounting for 6% of the national burden of disease. National exposuremodels developed for solid fuel-using households estimate daily average PM 2.5(particulate matter less than 2.5 lm inaerodynamic diameter) exposures of 337, 204, and 285 l g/m 3 for women, men, and children, respectively [10][11][12], far exceeding the current WHO air quality guideline (WHO-AQG) values (WHO 2006). Since dealing with solid biofuel for cooking is inconvenient, some people prefer the electric cook stoves and LPG, but these are more costly alternatives [9,11,13].…”

“…In India, according to the year 2011 census, 65 % of people live in rural areas and still depend on solid biomass fuels to meet their energy needs for cooking. Firewood is the main source of energy for 2.7 billion people worldwide, and it can meet more than 90% of household energy needs for cooking and heating purposes [1][2][3]. Solid fuel combustion can also lead to deforestation and forest destruction, with 27-34% of global firewood harvesting being considered unsustainable [4][5][6][7].…”

Evaluation of Agricultural Waste-Based Briquettes as an Alternative Biomass Fuel for Cooking in Uganda

“…To this effect, almost half of the global population and over 80% of Africa's households are currently using traditional biomass, particularly firewood and charcoal, a cooking fuel source (FAO, 2019;Sola et al, 2017). This evidences the increased importance of biomass as a cooking energy source in most communities of Africa and the entire developing world (Ahmad et al, 2022;Kyayesimira et al, 2021). Most of the biomass used to produce energy for cooking is obtained from forest trees which is then dried to produce quality firewood, or burnt into charcoal (Langbein et al, 2017).…”

“…More research into other potential forms of biomass that could replace wood fuel for cooking energy generation has spotted agricultural wastes (Ahmad et al, 2022). Fortunately, there is an abundance of agricultural wastes in Uganda and these have been reported as a potential reliable cooking energy source, which, if embraced could act as a means of saving the forest resources (Mugabi & Kisakye, 2021).…”