Biomass Cookstoves in India: Addressing LPG Crisis and Rural Energy Needs

Amid the ongoing LPG supply crisis, many households are reverting to firewood, bringing renewed focus on Biomass cookstoves as a cleaner but transitional alternative.

• The National Programme on Improved Chulhas (NPIC) was Introduced in 1985 by the Government of India under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • The programme was discontinued in the early 2000s, but it laid the foundation for later clean cooking initiatives like the National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative (NBCI) and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

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About Improved Cookstoves (ICS)

• Improved Cookstoves (ICS) are advanced biomass-based cooking devices designed to enhance combustion efficiency and reduce harmful emissions.
• They use fuels such as firewood, crop residues, dung cakes, pellets, and briquettes.
• Unlike traditional chulhas, ICS incorporate features like better airflow, insulation, and secondary combustion, leading to cleaner burning.

Key Benefits

• High Efficiency: Traditional “chulhas” waste most of their heat through poor airflow and have an efficiency of barely 10%. 
  • By contrast, modern improved cook stoves reach thermal efficiency levels of 38% to 45% due to technologies such as secondary aeration to help to catch soot and harmful gases before they turn into smoke.
• Earning Carbon Credits: Emissions savings enabled by improved cookstoves can be tracked and turned into carbon credits, creating a funding stream that makes stoves more affordable for lower-income families.
• Ability to Use Alternative Biofuels: Modern cookstoves can also run on alternative biomass fuels, including pellets and briquettes made from sawdust or agricultural waste.
• Health Benefits: Improved cookstoves reduce exposure to harmful particulate matter and smoke, thereby lowering the incidence of respiratory and eye-related diseases.
  • For Example: Women and children in rural households using ICS report fewer cases of chronic cough and breathing issues compared to traditional chulha users.
• Women Empowerment: Reduced fuel requirement decreases the time and physical effort spent by women in collecting firewood, allowing them to engage in education or income-generating activities.
  • In many rural areas, adoption of ICS has freed up several hours daily for women, enabling participation in self-help groups (SHGs) and livelihood activities.
• Decentralised and Low-Investment Fuel Supply Advantage: Adopting biomass cookstoves on a large scale absolutely does not require a massive investment in fuel supply chains. 
  • Since the primary fuels – like firewood, crop waste, and dung cakes – are already widely available in rural and semi-urban areas, there is less need for expensive, centralised infrastructure.

Challenges in Large-Scale Adoption of Improved Cookstoves

• Weak Distribution and Last-Mile Delivery: Poor logistics and limited rural penetration hinder timely availability of ICS in remote areas.
  • Villages in hilly or tribal regions often lack access to reliable dealers or service centres.
• Lack of Affordable Financing Mechanisms: Upfront costs vary significantly. Household models start below ₹2,000, while commercial systems can exceed ₹20,000, depending on the manufacturer and purchase channel (whether direct, through e-commerce, or via distributors) which makes it difficult to afford for middle class families.
• Limited Awareness and Behavioural Barriers: Many households are unaware of the long-term benefits of ICS or resist changing traditional cooking practices.
  • Preference for traditional chulhas due to familiarity and cooking taste perceptions.
• Maintenance and After-Sales Support Issues: Lack of repair services and spare parts reduces long-term usability and trust in the technology.
  • Non-functional stoves are often abandoned due to absence of local technicians.
• Inconsistent Fuel Supply Chains (for processed biomass): While raw biomass is available, supply of pellets or briquettes may be irregular.
  • In some regions, users revert to traditional fuels due to unavailability of standardized biomass fuels.

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Way Forward

• Strengthen Distribution Networks: Expand reach through robust supply chains to ensure availability in rural and remote areas.
  • Partnering with local dealers and self-help groups (SHGs) for wider dissemination.
• Improve Logistics and Last-Mile Delivery: Develop efficient transportation and delivery systems to reach underserved regions.
• • Use of rural entrepreneurs or village-level distributors for doorstep delivery.
• Promote Local Partnerships: Collaborate with NGOs, community organisations, and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for effective implementation.
  • NGOs facilitating awareness campaigns and demonstrations at village level.
• Ensure Reliable After-Sales Support: Establish maintenance services and feedback mechanisms to sustain long-term usage.
  • Training local technicians and setting up service centres for repairs and spare parts.

Biomass Stoves vis-i-vis  Electric Stoves

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