Ethiopia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

The proposed innovation is a box-type solar cooking device for the cooking of food and boiling of water for different applications, consisting of a black box, glass cover, reflecting mirror, and insulation at the sides and bottom of the black box.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The intensive use of biomass fuels will continue unless a renewable energy-based intervention is developed. Furthermore, no single sort of efficient cooking technology exists for all cooking occasions and conditions. As a result, there should be a variety of alternative energy sources to lessen reliance on inefficient biomass cooking stoves. The scenario of business-as-usual showed improvement but it is still far from entirely transforming the sector. Solar cooker works on the principle that sunlight heats the cooking pot, which is used for cooking food. This warming of the pot occurs by converting light energy to heat energy. As the name suggests, Solar box cookers have an interior chamber “box” shaped space to put the cooking pot on it. The cooker uses reflectors to concentrate more sunlight into the box, glazing to allow sunlight into the box and then trap the heat, and insulation to retain as much heat as possible. The cooking box is insulated on the sides and bottom.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

About 3 billion people around the world still depend on solid biomass fuels for cooking energy demand, which has critical environmental and health impacts (Kumar and Igdalsky, 2019; The World Bank, 2021). South Asia and East Africa are the most critical regions, with a higher use of unsustainable biomass fuel. Nearly 63% of Ethiopians depend on inefficient and traditional biomass stoves, which have a higher health and socioeconomic impact. This results in millions of people's deaths each year due to indoor air pollution and climate change stemming from deforestation (IEA, 2022). Adoption of clean and efficient cookstoves is thus critical to resolving public health, economic, and environmental challenges in developing nations such as Ethiopia. However, the living situation of most rural Ethiopians is challenging due to their inability to supply grid electric power for modern cooking and lighting, and thus, the dependence on biomass cooking is likely to continue to dominating.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Solar cooking builds community resilience through many benefits with linkages to sustainable development (SDGs).  Households could access free, zero-emission solar energy for cooking and water pasteurization.  People breathe cleaner air and drink safer water when their food is cooked with solar cookers.  Cooking with solar energy reduces women’s and children’s exposure to violence when gathering biomass fuels.  Women and children have more time and money for continuing their education, preparing goods for the market, caring for family members, or simply resting.  Solar cooking aligns with all 17 SDGs by reducing hunger and poverty, ensuring healthy lives, achieving women's empowerment, and facilitating access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, etc. In addition, the solar cooker at this stage could reduce the dependence on biomass consumption by nearly 40% for cooking and household-level heating applications.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The use of biomass fuel results in erosion, is laborious and dangerous in collection and has a high health effect. Cooking with clean solar technology will result in opportunities to develop a healthy society and save the environment. Even though almost all rural communities that are cooking with biomass fuel could be impacted by the technology, at the initial adaptation stage, this could not be achieved. Hence, we estimated that 20% of the rural population, in addition to refugee camps, rural schools, and rural health centers, will directly benefit from such technology based on our capacity to deliver. More importantly, rural women and girls who are more affected by collecting firewood and cooking with inefficient and polluting biomass stoves will be directly benefited. Moreover, youth will be involved in manufacturing and distribution of the technology and hence will get job opportunity. The country will also be benefited through enhanced agricultural productivity.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-09-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

3

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

1. Mulat Shitye Alemu who is a lecturer in Bahir Dar University. He has completed his BSc degree in Mechanical engineering and specialized his MSc in Thermal engineering. He has more than 4 years work experience. @. Seblewongale Mezgebu Ayene; She is fully working in the company Ghiontec PLC. She has been graduated with BSc degree in computer science and specialized in Information technology MSC degree. Here research are is in energy forecasting techniques using AI. 3. Muluken Zegeye Getie (PhD): He is an assistant professor in Mechanical engineering. .) graduated from Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, France, on 25 June 2021 with PhD degree in Energy. Moreover, I have completed my M.Sc. degree in sustainable energy engineering from Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia, in 2014 and my B.Sc. degree in Industrial Engineering from Mekelle University, Ethiopia, in 2005.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://ghpowers.com/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Solar cooking could result in: 1. increased agricultural productivity 2. Increased job opportunity for youth to gain income 3. Housewives could have more time to participate in value adding works. 4. CO2 emission reduced and environmental sustainability increased These all will increase productivity and income level of the community which could reduce hunger.

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Solar cookers eliminate indoor air pollution because they do not produce any emissions during cooking. By reducing indoor air pollution, solar cookers contribute to improved respiratory health among households. Studies have shown that using clean cooking technologies like solar cookers can lower the incidence of respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and pneumonia, especially in developing regions where traditional cooking methods are prevalent. Moreover, Solar cookers operate without flames, reducing the risk of burns and fire accidents in households, thus improving safety. By cooking food more gently and evenly, solar cookers preserve vitamins and nutrients, leading to healthier meals for families. In general, by mitigating indoor air pollution, reducing fire risks, and preserving nutritional value, solar cookers play a crucial role in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being, and SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

It has been noted that the culture influences women to be mostly engaged in cooking activities as compared to men. This resulted in a higher workload, a greater health impact, and less access to education for women in most developing countries, including Ethiopia. Girls usually absent from school for collecting firewood for biomass cooking. As the firewood collection reduced when using solar cooker, Children, particularly girls could be more engaged with education (align with SGD4). Solar cooking not only provides practical solutions to cooking needs but also serves as a powerful educational tool for fostering STEM literacy, environmental consciousness, health awareness, and life skills development. It could also provide more free time for girls to go to formal school. By integrating solar cooking into education initiatives, schools and communities can empower learners to become agents of sustainable change and global citizenship.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Cultural influence resulted in a higher workload, a greater health impact, and less access to education for women in most developing countries, including Ethiopia. Hence, this technological intervention by itself will favor women. On the other hand, gender equality and universal access to modern energy are underlined in SGDs 5 and 7, respectively; they are inextricably linked, and tackling them jointly would bring several development advantages. This project intends to incorporate gender equality and social inclusion principles into clean cooking solutions, lowering the baking burden and declining fuel collection, allowing children to learn and women to work productively. It will also empower women and girls by boosting their financial resilience, encouraging their participation, and lowering indoor air pollution exposure, saving millions of people from early mortality, primarily from energy-deprived communities.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

As there solar cooking is free of pollution, it would affect the sanitation of households living style positively. Moreover, Solar cookers designed for food preparation can often be adapted or modified for water pasteurization purposes. This integration allows for dual-use of solar cooking devices, maximizing their utility and impact in communities. Solar cookers can be adapted to pasteurize water, especially in regions where access to clean drinking water is limited. Pasteurization involves heating water to a temperature that kills disease-causing microorganisms, making it safe for consumption.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Solar cookers exemplify affordable and clean technology by harnessing renewable energy from sunlight to cook food without generating harmful emissions or requiring traditional cooking fuels. Here’s how solar cookers embody these benefits: 1. Solar cookers can be constructed from inexpensive materials such as cardboard, reflective foil, or locally sourced materials like metal sheets and glass. 2. Eliminate the ongoing cost of purchasing cooking fuels such as wood, charcoal, or gas. 3. Require minimal maintenance compared to traditional stoves or cooking appliances. 4. Produce zero greenhouse gas emissions, helping to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution 5. Reduces reliance on finite and non-renewable resources like firewood and fossil fuels.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

The solar cooking technology could have impact on providing additional decent and economic development through: 1. Improving productive use of time as there is no firewood collection. 2. Using solar cooker reduce close follow up of the cooking process 3. As the health of individuals improved, the girls and women could could be participated in vale adding jobs. 4. Production solar cook stove is also one opportunity to provide decent job opportunity to youth

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Solar cooker manufacturing not only provides clean and sustainable cooking solutions but also drives industrial innovation through advancements in materials, technology integration, manufacturing processes, and environmental stewardship. By fostering collaboration, research, and market development, our startup will contribute to improving global access to clean energy and promoting a more sustainable future. Moreover, manufacturing of solar cooker uses local raw materials as input which further enhances the raw material production and increase productivity of different industries. Youth who will be participated in solar cookers could also get better experience to work on innovation. These further enhances industrial development and new innovation.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Traditional cooking methods often require women and girls to spend several hours daily collecting firewood or cooking over open flames. Solar cookers eliminate the need for frequent fuel collection and constant monitoring of cooking, thereby saving considerable time. Solar cookers play a pivotal role in alleviating gender disparities by offering clean, safe, and time-efficient cooking solutions. By reducing the burden of traditional cooking methods on women and girls, solar cookers contribute to their empowerment, economic independence, and overall well-being. Integrating solar cooking initiatives with gender-sensitive policies and programs can further amplify these positive impacts, advancing towards more inclusive and equitable societies. On the other hand, rural communities are more affected by inefficient & polluting cooking technologies. They have no alternative clean cooking technologies. Supplying this technology will mainly help rural community with lower living standard.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Even though, this solar cooking technology is majorly designed for rural community with no grid electric connection, cities with frequent power breakage may also use this technologies. In this regard, this project could have positive impact in contributing to clean cities.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

The manufacturing of solar cooker is based on local raw materials and with available technology. Moreover, the raw material production is relatively reasonable and economical. There is lower power consumption to manufacture the technology. Moreover, there is no operating and less maintenance cost.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Solar cooking does not require any gas, electricity, or biomass energy sources but uses solar thermal energy to cook the food. This means that we can use a solar cooker anywhere that has a considerable intensity of sunlight. Solar cookers are used to cook food, sterilize medical apparatus, separate beeswax and capping, pasteurize water for safe drinking, etc. They use a free, renewable energy source and do not pollute the environment. It is 100% environmentally friendly and freely obtained from a solar energy source. At this stage, the solar cooker could reduce the dependence on biomass consumption by nearly 40% for cooking and household-level heating applications. The technology will be supplied sustainably through training youth, who will manufacture and distribute it to the most rural and vulnerable groups. It has no pollution effect and no waste to generate, as it only converts sunlight into heat energy.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

4

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

The technology resulted in reducing biomass consumption and forest degradation. This will result in conserving life on land as erosion could be minimized.

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

5

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

The reduction in biomass fuel consumption will reduce the conflict between different community levels. Moreover, as solar energy is free and could be harnessed everywhere, there will not be any conflict in using such energy source. Hence, peace and justice will be maintained. Moreover, there will be peace within a household members due to balanced workload and additional income level.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Partnership will be enhanced with private manufacturers, NGOs who are working on energy transformation services, government offices, and international organizations. Moreover, partnership will be created and enhanced with health and education offices, youth and women associations, as well as financial institutions to scale up the technology at large scale.

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

4

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

4

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

2

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

2

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

4

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

3

06.08 Justification for my startup

06.09 Competitive Analysis

The main competitors will be biomass stove manufacturers. This is because the awareness level the community is very low. Most community are always selecting the technology they already know. New technology adaption demands high commitment and awareness creation tasks.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Involve females in my research and innovation projects, consult their idea for the inclusion of female demand.