Energy Efficient Biomass Cookstoves: Performance Evaluation, Quality Assurance and Certification

Abstract

This study investigated the thermal and emissions performance characteristics of biomass cookstoves developed by the National Center for Energy Research and Development (NCERD) as well as other biomass cookstoves received by the Centre from stove designers and manufactures to ensure conformity with stipulated standard. The Center has acquired a Laboratory emissions monitoring system (LEMS) domicile at its National Stove Eligibility Laboratory (NSEL) for comprehensive biomass cookstoves performance evaluations. Water boiling test (WBT) and food cooking (rice and beans) tests were conducted with at the NSEL with LEMS for firewood and charcoal cookstoves to determine their thermal and emissions performance characteristics. Out of 15 sample charcoal stoves tested, 62% satisfied the minimum standard of tier 2, while 51% of 10 sample of firewood stoves tested satisfied the minimum standard of tier 2. The star rating of a biomass cookstove is determined from the thermal efficiency tier value of the stove. The available cookstoves in the local markets in Nigeria do not display any star rating. It was also found that nearly all the biomass cookstoves available in the local markets in Nigeria have not been tested and few tested ones at NSEL, NCERD were inconclusive. This could be attributed to non-enforcement of the standard and possibly lack of fund and incentives to enable the stove producers to undertake for full testing of the required sample test number of the stoves by Standard to attain full certifications.