A Box Solar Cooker is basically an insulated
box with a glass cover and a top lid which has a mirror on
the inside to reflect sunlight into the box when the lid is
kept open. The inner part of the box is painted black. Up
to four black painted vessels are placed inside the box with
the food to be cooked. The cooker takes 1 ½ to 2 hours
to cook items such as rice, lentils and vegetables. The cooker
has also been used to prepare simple cakes, roast cashewnuts,
dry grapes, etc. It is an ideal device for domestic cooking
during most of the year except the monsoon season and cloudy
days. It, however cannot be used for frying or chapati making.
Advantages
Solar Cooking involves no recurring expenses
on fuel. Solar energy is absolutely free. Cost of the solar
cooker can be recovered easily through saving on fuel bill
in a few years. A box solar cooker if used regularly can
save 3 to 4 LPG cylinders per year.
It saves time. You are free to do other
things while food cooks in the solar cooker.
There is no fear of scorching the food.
It ensures a better and more nutritious
cooked food because of its slow cooking design.
It is durable and simple to operate.
It does not pollute the environment and
conserves conventional energy.
It is an asset to the household
and a pride to its owner.
Cost & Availability
Solar cookers are available both with and without electrical
back up in different sizes and features. These can be procured
from manufacturers /suppliers/district and head offices of
state agencies and the Akshay Urja Shops. Cooker with an electrical
back up has the advantage of cooking food during non-sunshine
hours/cloudy days with very nominal consumption of electricity.
The cost of the cooker varies from Rs. 1000 to 2500 depending
on its size & features. A normal size family cooker is
sufficient for a family of 4 to 5 members. It has a life of
15 to 20 years and pays back the cost in 3 to 4 years. Community
box solar cookers are also being manufactured by some of the
manufacturers which can cook food for 20 to 25 people.
Main Application:
Solar
Contact:
Ministry of Non-Conventonal Energy Sources,
Govt. of India
Block-14, CGO Complex, Lodi Road
New Delhi – 110 003
Tel: 91 11 2436 0707/ 2436 0404
Fax: 91 11 2436 1298
