Solar cooking is an innovative, environmentally-friendly method of cooking food using thesun’s energy. Solar ovens and solar cookers are devices that capture and concentrate the sun’s rays to generate the heat needed for cooking. In France, Europe and around the world, solar cooking is gaining in popularity due to its many environmental and economic benefits.
Solar cooking is a promising technology for cooking withrenewable energy. With parabolic solar cookers, solar ovens, solar barbecues and solar stoves available on the market, solar cooking is becoming increasingly accessible and popular.
The different types of solar cooking
The concept of solar cooking goes back centuries, with inventors and visionaries such as Augustin Mouchot, Wolfgang Scheffler, Michael Gotz, Gabriel Guillet, Thomas Fasquelle, Erik Burton and Rolf Behringer helping to develop and promote the technology. In Marseille and other parts of France, there are examples of solar cookers being used in a variety of contexts, including camping, outdoor cooking and off-grid communities.
Solar cookers can be classified into different categories, depending on their design and mode of operation. Among the most common types are parabolic solar cookers, concentrated solar cookers and tube solar cookers. Each of these devices uses solar energy in a slightly different way, but all aim to provide a sustainable, renewable heat source for cooking.
- Parabolic solar cookers, for example, use a parabolic dish to concentrate the sun’s rays into a single focal point. This concentration of sunlight generates intense heat, which can be used to cook food quickly and efficiently. Tube solar cookers, on the other hand, use evacuated glass tubes to trap the sun’s heat and cook the food inside. These cookers are often more compact and portable than parabolic cookers.
- The solar cooker is another type of solar cooker that uses solar energy to heat an enclosed space, like a traditional oven. Solar ovens are generally equipped with reflective panels that concentrate sunlight inside the cooking chamber, where heat is trapped and used to cook food. Solar ovens can reach high temperatures, similar to those of electric or gas ovens, making them an excellent option for cooking a variety of foods.
- In addition to traditional solar cookers, there are also solar barbecues, which use solar energy to grill food outdoors. Models such as the Solar Cookup and Solar Cookup Inox are specially designed for barbecuing, offering an eco-friendly alternative to charcoal and gas barbecues. Similarly, there are solar stoves, which combine the advantages of a solar oven and a solar cooker to offer a complete and versatile cooking experience.
In addition to their cooking function, solar cookers can also be used to heat water and generate electricity. Some solar cooker models feature photovoltaic solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity, providing an additional energy source to power electrical appliances and charging devices. This versatility makes solar cookers an attractive option for campers, hikers and people living in remote or off-grid areas.
The benefits of solar cooking
Solar cooking offers several advantages over traditional cooking methods. Firstly, it uses solar energy, a renewable and abundant resource, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and minimizing the environmental impact of cooking. What’s more, solar cooking produces no smoke or harmful emissions, which improves air quality and the health of users.
One of the main challenges of solar cooking is its dependence on weather conditions. Solar cooking requires sufficient sunlight to operate effectively, which can be a problem in areas where the weather is often cloudy or rainy. However, technological advances have made it possible to develop solar cookers that are more efficient and capable of operating even on cloudy days.
In terms of cost, solar cookers can be more expensive to buy than traditional ovens and barbecues. However, their fuel-free operation and low maintenance costs often offset these initial costs over the long term. What’s more, government grants and subsidies are available in some countries to encourage the adoption of solar technologies, including solar cookers.
The problem of power
Suppose you want to cook a meal requiring 1500 watts of power for 1 hour. For a gas oven, this would correspond to around 5,100 BTUs (British Thermal Units). A standard gas oven consumes around 10,000 BTUs per hour, so you’d need to use it for around 30 minutes to cook your meal.
For a parabolic solar oven, let’s say it has a diameter of 1.5 meters and an efficiency of 60%. Assuming solar irradiation of 1000 W/m², the reflector surface area would be around 1.77 m² (area of a circle: πr²). The power captured by the solar cooker would therefore be 1,770 watts (1000 W/m² × 1.77 m²). Taking into account the 60% efficiency, the useful power would be around 1,062 watts (1,770 W × 0.6). To achieve the equivalent of 1,500 watts for 1 hour, you’d need to run the solar oven for around 1 hour and 25 minutes (1,500 W × 1 h / 1,062 W).
Solar cooker companies and models
Solar cookers come in a variety of sizes, shapes and prices, from portable models for camping to large-scale solar cooking installations for institutions and communities. Manufacturers and suppliers of solar cookers often offer free delivery options and advice on installation and use. In France, companies and associations such as Atlas Cuisine Solaire and Sun Cook Tropical offer a range of solar cooking products and services.
There are numerous solar cooking companies and models on the market, ranging from portable solar cookers to large-scale installations. Here are a few examples of notable companies and models:
- GoSun: GoSun is an American company specializing in the design and manufacture of innovative solar cookers. They offer a range of products, including:
- GoSun Sport: a lightweight, portable solar cooker ideal for camping and picnics.
- GoSun Fusion: a larger solar-electric hybrid model, capable of cooking meals for several people.
- Solar Cookers International (SCI): SCI is a US-based non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of solar cooking. In particular, they offer the CooKit, an affordable, easy-to-use solar-panel cooker.
- Sun Ovens International: This American company manufactures solar ovens for domestic and institutional use. Their models include:
- All American Sun Oven: a versatile solar oven designed for cooking, baking, steaming and dehydrating.
- Villager Sun Oven: a larger model designed for community and institutional cooking.
- ATLAS Cuisines Solaires: Based in France, ATLAS specializes in the design and manufacture of solar cookers. Their products include:
- The Cookup 200: a folding parabolic solar cooker, adapted to the needs of families.
- The Cookup Inox: a parabolic stainless-steel model, offering enhanced durability.
- Sun Cook Tropical: Based in France, this company offers the Sun Cook, a solar box oven designed for use in tropical regions.
- Solar Brother: A French company that designs and manufactures innovative solar products, including :
- Solar Brother SunGood: an ultra-portable and compact solar cooker, ideal for travel and outdoor activities.