Potential of locally manufactured solar cookers for conserving biomass in Rawal watershed area of Islamabad (P-0778) (MFN 3974)

Abstract

Increasing environmental awareness and the growing global need for alternative cooking fuels has spurred solar cooker research and development. The study is focused on Satrameel rawal sub watershed, the area particularly susceptible to deforestation. To overcome the problem of deforestation in Satrameel solar cookers are an option to be used as an alternate cooking fuel. During the study, the potential performance of two locally manufactured solar cookers (double glass solar cooker and parabolic solar cooker) was measured by scientifically planned experiments, which include “Water Boiling Test”, “Evaporation Test”, and “Fuel Wood Test”. The water-boiling test was performed in three different weather conditions (bright sunny weather, partially cloudy weather and cloudy weather) and each test was performed in 15 days. Impact of selected meteorological parameters (humidity, wind speed, ambient temperature and solar radiations) on the raising water temperature was also measured by recording the readings from automatic weather station available at the experimental site. Besides that, Biomass conservation at Satrameel was also measured by finding out the energy consumption pattern at Satrameel by interviewing the locals and fuel wood test was conducted to find out the amount of wood required to boil a particular amount of water.