Approximately half of China's population lives in rural areas and use biomass fuels (such as wood and straw) as the domestic fuel for cooking/heating. Biomass fuels burnt in low-efficient stoves would produce substantial air pollutants and increase fine particulate matter exposure in the indoor environment, which is associated with adverse health impacts such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In China, household combustion of wood and straw, is the dominant source of indoor air pollution in rural areas and contributes significantly to the human health burden. Household combustion methods of both wood and straw in rural China are of low energy conversion efficiency and result in high pollutant emissions.

Similar conditions exist in Africa and many other parts of the world. We can make a difference in the health and lives of others through the use of a bioenergy solution.

We are in the prototype phase of a solar assisted biomass pellet stove designed for heating and cooking. Using readily available biomass, from rice husks, coffee berry pulp to inedible grain, this device provides cleaner heat.