Solar-Electric Cooking Offers Hope to Charcoal-Dependent Communities in Rwanda

Solar-powered cooking is making waves in Rwanda, offering a cleaner, faster, and more sustainable alternative to the traditional charcoal and wood stoves many rely on.

A new project led by Coventry University has shown that solar electric cooking systems can change the lives of families in rural Rwanda.

In many parts of the world, including Rwanda, 30% of people still lack access to clean cooking facilities, and 10% don’t have electricity. Women and children are especially affected, often spending hours each day collecting firewood. This new project aims to address both of these issues.

The team at Coventry University, led by Alison Halford and Jonathan Nixon, partnered with a Rwandan community to test solar-powered cooking. They installed 20 solar systems in East Kayonza, each with a solar panel, battery, inverter, induction stove, and electric pressure cooker.

The results? Remarkable. Over seven months, the project tracked energy use, air quality, and cooking habits. Families reduced their firewood consumption by over 70%, from 3.4 kg per day to just 0.86 kg. Kitchen air quality also improved by more than 70%. And the time saved on cooking and firewood collection gave families more hours to work, study, or pursue other activities.

While the initial cost of the systems may seem high, Jonathan Nixon from Coventry University explained that the long-term savings make it worthwhile. “People weren’t willing to sell their systems at the end of the project,” he said. “This shows how impactful the technology is, especially since these families are often at risk of poverty.”

One of the biggest changes was how the labor of cooking shifted. With solar cooking, meal preparation became a shared responsibility. Men and children, who traditionally didn’t cook, started helping. This has opened up new economic opportunities for women, who now have more time to pursue other activities, like starting a small business.

Time spent collecting firewood, a task usually done by women and children, also dropped dramatically, from hours each day to less than one hour.

As the prices of charcoal and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) rise and charcoal becomes illegal in some areas, solar-powered cooking is now more affordable than ever. The Rwanda Energy Group (REG) is exploring financing options, including pay-as-you-go models, which have worked well for solar lighting in rural areas.

Despite the promise of solar cooking, solar-powered projects have often faced challenges in the past. But Coventry’s team focused on educating the community about how to use and maintain their new equipment. Nixon explained that, “We made sure families understood the technology and how to use it. Some even used the pressure cookers to cook for their neighbors or sell extra food.”

The residents of East Kayonza are excited about the change. Barihafi Augustin, a 45-year-old from Kabeza village, said the new technology has made a huge difference. “Before, we had to search for firewood or use agricultural residues, which was difficult,” he said. “Now, cooking is easier and faster.”

Nyirakimonyo Costasie, from Bara village, shared how the solar cooker has improved her health. “I used to suffer from smoke-related eye problems. Now, I can cook without the smoke,” she said.
For Kibukayire Esperance, the system cooks food faster and better. “The food is tastier and without the smoke. It’s much quicker, and it does more with less time,” she said.

Rwanda’s Energy Group is encouraged by the results. Habyarimana Cyprien, head of business development at REG, said, “The results are amazing. The air quality is better, the time spent gathering firewood is down, and even neighboring households are asking to use the solar cookers.”

Janvier Kabananiye, REG’s Director of Research, believes the next step is to make solar cooking even more accessible. He noted that while the technology is still new, the positive impact on health, air quality, and time-saving is undeniable.

“Solar cooking has shown clear benefits,” Kabananiye said. “We are working to make it more affordable, so more people can benefit.”

This project has proven that solar cooking isn’t just a trend — it’s a lifeline for rural families in Rwanda, offering a cleaner, healthier, and more efficient way to cook for generations to come.