The University of Edinburgh

Mission

The University of Edinburgh is one of the UKs top instututions and is also internationally renowned promoting excellence in research and teaching. As an academic institution we play a non-advocacy role and do not promote particular technologies or initiatives, but seek to advance understanding and knowledge which can be used for the benefit of the society and the environment.

The School of GeoSciences has expertise in ecology, environment, geography, geology, geophysics, meteorology and oceanography. Household energy has application in the field of human geography, atmospheric science and the environment.

Organization Type Academia

Contact Information

Primary Contact
 Ms. Sarah Carter
sarah.carter@ed.ac.uk 		Secondary Contact

Address School of GeoSciences
Edinburgh,

United Kingdom 		Website www.ed.ac.uk
Phone
Fax
Calling/Fax Instructions

Our Focus

Primary Initiatives, Target Populations, and Scope of Work:

The UK Biochar Research Centre (www.geos.ed.ac.uk/sccs/biochar/) within the school of GeoSciences is undertaking research on stoves with the ability to produce biochar. These stoves have the potential to address several issues including indoor air pollution, gender inequalities and hunger (where biochar is used as a soil amendment). The project will assess the potential for these benefits to be realised with different stove types and with which target populations in Southeast Asia.
See: http://biocharinnovation.wordpress.com/ for more information.

Fuels/Technologies: Biomass
 Sectors of Experience: Agriculture
Carbon Finance
Energy
Environment
Rural Development

Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas

Social/Cultural barriers to using traditional fuels and stoves:

The project will assess which communities are most suited to which improved stove interventions and can most readily benefit from the technology. Issues of particular interest include the extent to which the new technology will be accepted, how the benefits are viewed by the target communities, and which disadvantages they perceive will result from adoption.

Market development for improved cooking technologies:

This project aims to evaluate the promotion methods used to increase the uptake of improved stoves. It will look briefly at credit options, subsidies (direct and indirect) and other mechanisms and their level of success in current and past projects worldwide.
The innovation process and how stove users are / can be involved in this will be investigated.

Technology standardization for cooking, heating and ventilation:

Standard tests on various gasification stoves will be carried out to act as a comparison between the designs as well a comparison with the baseline / traditional stove. The thermal efficiency, cooking time and user satisfaction will be evaluated.

Indoor air pollution exposure and health monitoring:

This project is a research pilot so at present monitoring is not relevant to the aims.

Relevant Publications or Studies

None noted

Our Contribution to the Partnership

Submission of publication / results