Solar Energy Perspectives - IEA

Chapter 7: Solar heat
Photo 7.2 Cheapest solar cookers in Sudan
Source: Sudan Envoy, Solar Cookers pt. II.
Source: Cédric Filhol.
Key point
Solar cookers can be made from recycled materials at a very low cost.
Both devices allow for cooking many types of food. To toast, roast, grill or brown food, however,
higher temperature levels are needed, requiring concentration. This is achieved with a reflecting
parabola (Photo 7.3). Sun-tracking is manually handled by the cooks. For larger volume cooking
at community level, other systems are used, in particular Scheffler dishes described below.
Photo 7.3 Concentrating solar cooker
Source: Crosby Menzies/SunFire Solutions
Key point
Concentrating solar ovens can toast any food.
Concentrating ovens are not limited to cooking food. Mid-size devices can achieve a wide
range of temperature levels and power ranges (50 kW th for the solar oven in Photo 7.4), so
that they can be used for artworks and industry, such as for potteries in Morocco as mentioned
(see Chapter 5).
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© OECD/IEA, 2011