Why ?

Clean Cooking

Problem

Charcoal production is the leading driver of deforestation in Africa and endangers the estimated 850 million to 900 million people who use solid fuels, including charcoal and firewood for cooking on the continent. The toxic emissions from from burning charcoal are blamed for shortening the lives of more than half a million Africans every year.

Deforestation

Charcoal production is the leading driver of deforestation across Africa. Some 700 million people use solid wood or charcoal fuel everyday.

Health

Emissions and particulates from burning charcoal and wood cause chronic health problems. This primarily effects women and girls who are often the family cook.

It was a profound realisation that the cooking methods used by most of Africa's population have remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Richard Bennett

Sunbird Group

Renewable ethanol can be made from a variety of feedstocks and sustainably sourced from local communities – making it the most democratic fuel.

Harry
Stokes
Project Gia

The Sub-Saharan Africa region accounts for 65% of the world's charcoal production, and the largest cause of deforestation on the continent.

Andrew
Gee

Carbon 1

Solution

The solution to African deforestation starts by switching households away from charcoal cooking fuel. Gas and electricity are too expensive and require massive government subsidies. Sunstove is leading the energy transition to sustainable bioethanol cooking fuel.

Cookstoves

Our cookstoves use clean burning bioethanol fuel that substantially reduces emissions and particulates. They provide instant heat and have a low cost of operation.

Renewable Fuel

A variety of feedstocks can be converted into bioethanol in a biorefinery. Community based biorefineries create measurable impact; both direct jobs and economic opportunities for small scale farmers.