SolSource Solar Cooker

The SolSource is a lightweight solar energy device that provides users with a low-cost and portable means of cooking, heating and electricity generation.

Co-designed with rural Himalayan communities, the SolSource eliminates many of the complications associated with burning solid fuels, including harmful indoor air pollution, gender inequities and greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, 2.5 billion people rely on solid fuels for their daily energy needs, resulting in more than 1.6 million deaths per year and making indoor air pollution a leading cause of mortality for children under 5 in developing regions of the world.

Combining advanced technology with user-centered design, the SolSource represents an exciting new design solution for communities and individuals everywhere.

By directly involving local stakeholders in the design process, OED empowered Himalayan communities to define their own vision of an effective solution. Community members from a variety of backgrounds participated as members of the team, and physical immersion by the organization yielded valuable insight into local preferences, traditions and needs. OED's formalized impact assessments supplied communities with the options and ideas they needed to balance tradeoffs and make well-informed decisions, while the informal feedback generated by iterative testing solidified a qualitative voice in the SolSource's creation.

Throughout the process, many villagers communicated that existing alternatives to solid fuels were inappropriate for their social, economic and environmental needs. Traditional solar stoves are frequently designed only for cooking - leaving villagers reliant on solid fuels for heating - and are constructed with fragile concrete and glass components, yet rural communities lack the resources needed to repair broken devices. Moreover, many stoves weigh up to 95kg each. This excess weight hinders portability and in many cases prevents distribution networks from reaching the end-user. The SolSource's innovative design makes no sacrifice in efficiency for versatility and simplicity.

Publicly available: yes
Countries where available: Worldwide
Price range (USD): over 200 USD
Available online: yes

Weight: 6 kg