South Africa

Biomass Stoves (Energy and Health)

Lesotho and South Africa (Bloemfontein / township contexts)
Introduce high-efficiency stoves using agricultural waste rather than paraffin to reduce smoke exposure and fuel costs, with local manufacturing of a lower-cost “bucket” version to support affordability
Active
introduced commercially around 2019–2021; evolving into local manufacturing
Distribution of ACE One stoves and locally built “bucket” stoves that burn biomass (twigs, dung, shells) instead of paraffin; iterative adaptation based on township realities and uptake conditions
Negotiated rights for the Dutch company in South Africa; now innovates lower-cost local versions to meet affordability needs
- Health: 97% less smoke; reported 27% decrease in worker illness during winter
- Efficiency: saves women approximately two hours/day on firewood collection
- Economic: <1 tablespoon paraffin equivalent provides 8 hours of heat
- Demonstrated that high-tech features (e.g., app connectivity) do not translate into township contexts where smartphones are limited;
- confirmed affordability as decisive (2,000 Rand not viable; ~700 Rand viable);
- positioned household energy as an entry point to dignity, health, and economic resilience