brown firewood lot

Rwenzori Improved Cookstove — Carbon Project Baseline

Client: Rwenzori Clean Cooking Initiative

Location: Rwenzori Sub-Region, Western Uganda

The Challenge

Rural households in Rwenzori region rely on biomass (wood) for cooking—inefficient, high-emissions, and driving deforestation. Clean cookstoves offer efficiency gains and emissions reductions, potentially qualifying for international carbon finance. Technical baseline and feasibility assessment required to access carbon credit markets.

Our Role

Earth Partners conducted thermal performance testing and carbon baseline development for clean cookstove projects.

What We Delivered

  • Water Boiling Tests (WBT): Standardized thermal efficiency testing; fuel consumption measurement

  • Kitchen Performance Tests (KPT): Real-world cooking performance; wood consumption monitoring over 4 weeks

  • Emissions Testing: Indoor air quality measurement (CO, PM2.5); health impact assessment

  • Baseline Carbon Calculations: Verified emissions reductions per stove per year

  • Additionality Assessment: Justification that carbon finance is necessary for project viability

  • Carbon Project Documentation: Baseline report for submission to carbon credit frameworks (Gold Standard, VCS)

  • Feasibility & Finance Plan: Market assessment; willingness-to-pay; carbon revenue modeling

Key Results

✓ Baseline Carbon Data Validated

✓ Carbon Project Documentation Complete

✓ Access to International Carbon Finance Enabled

✓ 1,000+ Stoves Projected for Distribution (with carbon revenue)

Cookstove Specifications Tested

  • Model Assessed: Rocket stove design (locally manufactured)

  • Performance Metrics: - Thermal efficiency: 45–55% (vs. 15% open fire) - Fuel consumption: 2–3 kg wood/day (vs. 5–7 kg open fire) - Cooking time: 30 minutes per meal (vs. 45 minutes) - Indoor air quality: PM2.5 reduction of 60–70%

  • Emissions Reductions: - Per stove per year: 2–3 tonnes CO₂ equivalent - Carbon finance value: $5–$8 per stove per year (at $5–$8 per tonne CO2) - Payback period: 1.5–2 years (via carbon revenue + fuel savings)