The sun is a very powerful source of clean, renewable energy. By capturing its rays this energy can be harnessed and used to accomplish a variety of tasks. Solar energy can be divided into two broad categories: photovoltaics and concentrators.

When most people think about solar power they think of photovoltaics. In this process solar panels are placed in the sun. As the panels are exposed to sunlight a series of reactions take place which actually produce electricity. This electricity can be used immediately or can be stored using a battery system for later use. Photovoltaic systems are excellent for operating electronics but since cooking takes such a huge amount of energy it is typically easier to cook using concentrators.

Concentrators, as their name suggests, work by concentrating the solar energy of a large space and concentrating it into a small space like an insulated cooking chamber or a pot. This works in much the same way as using a magnifying glass to start a fire. By concentrating the sun of a larger area into a smaller area you get a concentration of energy and heat. This allows us to easily tap into the immense power of the sun for cooking using very simple solar ovens made from very basic materials.

Advantages of using solar cookers include:

• basic cookers are very inexpensive
• basic cookers can often be easily made from very basic simple materials
• no wood, charcoal or biomass fuel is needed for cooking
• basic designs can be modified for cooking, water purification, dehydrating food, etc
• no smoke is made while cooking
• the cookers are a very clean and renewable energy source

Challenges to using solar cooking include:

• no sunshine means no cooking - the rainy season can be a real challenge
• solar cooking may require minor changes in cooking behaviors… many solar cookers function like slow cookers and more time is needed for the meal to be
• since solar-cooked food is not smoked like wood-fire cooked food there may be a change in flavor

This page is in the process of being expanded.

Please check back again for more information as well as directions which will soon be posted demonstrating how to make your own simple solar cooker. These easy-to-make, inexpensive cooking systems are able easily made with basic materials and cook meals with no wood or smoke.