Steps to a Plant-Oil Economy

Petroleum and other fossil fuels are currently the global energy-source of choice. Unfortunately, these resources are both scarce and unevenly distributed. Although the word “oil” is often used interchangeably with petroleum, “black gold” is neither the only type of oil that exists, nor the only one that can be used as a source of fuel.

A series of discussions among Bellagio Forum members focusing on the economics of energy and the possibility of introducing economically competitive renewables into developing country markets led them to look more closely at the plant-derived oils. The potential for developing nations – many of which are in regions where both edible and non-edible oils are easily grown – to literally grow their own energy would clearly be a revolution. A shift from petroleum based fuel-supplies to local agricultural products would have tremendous economic, trade, social and environmental implications.

It was clear from the beginning that producing such a shift would need to be accomplished in small steps. Neither the infrastructure, awareness nor the technology existed to allow individuals to fulfill even basic energy needs with plant-oils.

Thus, several Forum members and partners including the Rockefeller Foundation, Toyota Foundation and German Environmental Foundation decided to concentrate on the development of a technology that could jump-start the widespread and local use of plant-oil. The Bellagio-Plant-Oil cooker is intended provide a key component in a dynamic that allows for the creation of a plant-oil production and delivery infrastructure that could also serve as the impetus to develop additional technologies providing not just cooking but also heat, light, electricity and perhaps even transportation.

This challenge is neither simple nor small. The cooker represents the first step in a very long and complex process where obstacles will be technical, economic and political.

Bellagio Plant-Oil Cooker

With the support of BFSD members, Hohenheim University designed an innovative device that can utilize all available plant-oils for cooking purposes. The use of plant-oil offers a variety of economic and ecological advantages – especially in developing countries. In comparison to open fires, for example, the plant-oil cooker has the potential to significantly reduce deforestation as well as users’ health and safety risks. Moreover, utilization of native plant oils as fuel will assure a sustainable supply of energy for cooking even in remote areas.

Although field tested on a small scale in Guatemala, the cooker was not ready to be introduced to a broader group. This is where Forum member Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances offered to apply its considerable know-how to further develop the technology. Fine-tuning in the lab and field testing in the Philippines is the current stage in which the cooker finds itself. BSH is strongly committed to introducing the plant-oil stove technology to nations that will benefit from its use and has employed a specialist who is exclusively working on the plant-oil stove. Moreover, a technical group of BSH-engineers as well as external experts was formed.

The future of the technology and the increasing use of locally grown fuel are bright. To date, several BFSD members including corporate and endowed foundations have expressed their willingness and commitment to play a significant role in taking the cooking technology to a broader group of people who would benefit from it. Recognizing that it will be necessary to assemble a wider group of experts, discussions are currently underway with organizations that have expertise on health, energy, development and forestry issues. The Bellagio Forum and BSH recognize the multi-faceted nature of the task ahead and are convinced that success is only possible if partners with a range of expertise play a role.

Contact Person: Samuel Shirofff (E-mail: Samuel.Shiroff@BSHG.com)

For more information or to watch the video, please visit the B/S/H website on the cooker here: www.plantoilcooker.com

Read stories about the cooker in other publications:

English

TROZ
Newsflash

German

Spiegel Online
Handelsblatt
Abendblatt