PM Modi endorses Indian Oil's 'Surya Nutan' solar cooker at India Energy Week! Should you switch?

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PM Modi endorses Indian Oil's 'Surya Nutan' solar cooker at India Energy Week! Should you switch?
India Energy Week 2023 is underway in Bengaluru, and the air couldn't be more electric (pun intended, of course). At the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed many items of significance, but how much does a new helicopter, improving green hydrogen, or moving to new ethanol even mean to the common man?
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However, there was one item that stood out in that regard. Modi touted Indian Oil's novel Indoor Solar Cooking System, called the ‘Surya Nutan’, mentioning that "in the next few years, solar cook-top will reach three crore households". But is the stove really worth all the hype? Let's find out.

The solar cooker has two components: the main stove, which is attached via a cable to a solar PV panel that sticks to the roof. After the initial set-up, the company claims that daily captured sunlight will be enough to cook enough for a family of four during the day and night. In addition, it can even be plugged into the electric grid when cloudy days hinder effective charging.

The stove comes in two variants with either a single or a double cooker, which is usually enough for the daily Indian meal. In addition, they claim that cooking times are similar to an LPG burner. In addition, you can cook anything you want on the Surya Nutan the same way you do on a traditional cooker.

While the solar panel has a 25-year life, the company claims that the stove can go for ten years without maintenance, and sports a unique battery that does not require replacement. However, the steep price can be a bottleneck for much of the Indian audience.

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Currently, the stove costs between Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000 per unit, which is certainly much higher than standard induction stoves that start at around Rs 2,000 per piece and can go up to Rs 6,000 for the top-end models. In comparison, LPG costs over Rs 1,000 for the standard 14.2 kg cylinder, which usually lasts a family that regularly cooks about a month at max.

While there are obvious long-term energy and financial benefits since the Surya Nutan reduces cooking costs to basically nil, there are still ways to go before any form of eCooking can be properly incorporated within all Indian households.

According to the 2020 India Residential Energy Survey, only about five per cent of Indian homes use eCooking devices, and this is mainly concentrated only among the wealthiest groups (85% of the user base).

Additionally, many believe eCooking isn't a feasible alternative either, especially among non-users; therefore some core values need challenging before an actual transition can occur. Perhaps, Modi's appreciation and Indian Oil's status as an Indian household brand could lend the necessary push the solar cooker needs to move into every Indian kitchen. The need to move towards clean fuels cannot be overstated in this climate change-struck day and age either.

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These types of green projects to receive special 'Green Bonds' as per SBI's new ESG framework

These types of green projects to receive special 'Green Bonds' as per SBI's new ESG framework

After the initial set-up, the company claims that daily captured sunlight will be enough to cook enough for a family of four during the day and night. In addition, it can even be plugged into the electric grid when cloudy days hinder effective charging.
India's economy 10% more energy efficient than G20 average: IEA

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After the initial set-up, the company claims that daily captured sunlight will be enough to cook enough for a family of four during the day and night. In addition, it can even be plugged into the electric grid when cloudy days hinder effective charging.