The majority of the underdeveloped world has no way to achieve that in the near term. The healthier more efficient solution is indeed higher efficiency fuel stoves. The great part of that is it can also spur new business with the help of NGOs/Governments/Funds etc. You get local businesses to make high efficiency stoves, subsidize for people who cannot afford, new businesses to make the fuel, thinking of things like charcoal or wood pellets (that one might be a little more complicated but still doable).
Because its not reliable. Fuel stoves are extremely reliable, you just need access to the fuel and most of the time there is a level of interchangability on types of fuels. Electronics fail. Fuel stoves generally do not or if they do, repairable.
The sun is not always shining. What do you do, not cook? Yes, you can add batteries, thats increased costs and more failures. Or do you add massive solar arrays for each home? 900watts is not a trivial amount for someone living in a rural country side.
The link didn't appear to have the current draw .. but there's a very good chance it's high relative to a single solar panel or two in areas that lack reliable grid electricty.
Hence the comment about the majority of the underdeveloped world and the near term.
( A key feature of much of the underdeveloped world is a general lack of IKEA kitchens with handy wall plugs and 24/7 high wattage grids )
> The link didn't appear to have the current draw .. but there's a very good chance it's high relative to a single solar panel or two in areas that lack reliable grid electricty.
Product details -> Good to know -> Connection rating: 1800W. That's max power, I imagine they could run it at 900W, which, from what I see, would be 2-3 panels.
Also, I don't think it's the "majority of the underdeveloped world".
Anyway, it's kind of a moot point, this will probably happen on its own over time, where it makes sense.
> ( A key feature of much of the underdeveloped world is a general lack of IKEA kitchens with handy wall plugs and 24/7 high wattage grids )
This snark is irrelevant. I didn't say they should buy it from Ikea, ergo my comment about the $10-15 copycat (probably from Aliexpress). Nor did I say they should buy an Ikea <<kitchen>>. You can plug that thing on top of a $2 table to a regular wall plug or even an extension cord.
Yes, for sure there are places where there is no real alternative to fire.
But they are also still used in big cities and other places where essentially trying to improve their efficiency is papering over the failure to build and maintain working infrastructure (mostly electricity, but also gas pipes etc.). And it won't work.
