SolCaFe': a solar cooking facility for schools and small catering business in hot arid areas

Abstract

A solar cafeteria, termed, `SolCafe’ was designed and commissioned at a residential school of hundred children in Kothara-Kutch. In this paper we present the experience of its first year of operation. Cooking modules of the café consists of two large box type solar cookers. One cooker has an aperture of 0.5 m2 and the other 1 m2. Cookers are of front-loading type. Installation permits the cook to operate from indoors without having to go in the sun. One year of experience has shown that the cookers are easy to use. The only maintenance needed was regular cleaning of glass covers. Such facilities can also be useful to small catering business in hot arid areas. A solar cafeteria, termed, `SolCafe' was installed in a 100-children residential school at Kothara (Kutch). Kutch is characterized by high insolation, cloud-free sky (barring rainy season), and widespread shortage of fuelwood. In short, it is an area of good potential for solar cooking. Solcafe installed in June 2003, is in regular use. In this paper, we present the experience of this, first year of operation.