Updated on December 31, 2023

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Created on August 27, 2015

BioLite HomeStove

Upcoming Update

BioLite HomeStove is a biomass cookstove that generates electricity from waste heat while cooking. It can charge mobile phones and LED lights through an on-board USB port.

Developed By
  1. BioLite
Tested By
  • Renewable Energy and New Materials Institute
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Content Partners
  1. Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
  2. The Level Market

Author

Product Description

BioLite HomeStove is a rocket-type and single burner cookstove that also generates electricity while reducing smoke emissions by 90% and fuel usage by 50%. It has a patent-protected Direct Conduction Thermoelectric System that co-generates electricity from the flame and enables users to charge mobile phones and LED lights by its USB port. It features mobile adapters and BioLite’s FlexLight (100 lumens).

Introduction video available.

Target SDGs

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Market Suggested Retail Price

$60.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Directly from the manufacturer. Also possible to purchase it online on The Level Market. Get a quote on volume orders.  

Manufacturing/Building Method

Mass produced.

Intellectural Property Type

Patent

User Provision Model

Users can obtain it directly from the manufacturer or by purchase online.

Distributions to Date Status

The exact number of distribution to date is unknown, however, BioLite has impacted 293,165 people within 137,436,006 Wh of electricity generated and 167,898 tonnes of CO2 offset. Further details in the 2017 Impact Report.

Fuel type

Biomass, wood, dung

Chimney (yes/no)

No

Forced or passive

Passive

Pot type

Flat and round bottom

Pot capacity (L)

Unknown

Thermal efficiency (%)

36.92%

PM emissions (g/MJ delivered to pot)

Unknown

CO emissions (g/MJ delivered to pot)

Unknown

Time to boil (min/L)

18 min per 5 L

Design Specifications

Design specifications include the high grade stainless steel stove body, a cast iron top that keeps pots of all sizes stable, a Thermoelectric Generator with a LED FexLight (100 lumens) and an inbuilt USB port (2W, 5V) (for charging mobile phones), and the combustion chamber with a fuel rack at the bottom that supports wood for easy tending.  It weighs 8 kgs and its dimensions are 23 x 31 cm.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

The instructional manual is available along with Frequently Asked Questions field in the manufacturer's website. Furthermore, Biolite has local call centers, in-home service where trained technicians travel to customers' homes and provides post-purchase follow-ups to ensure customers satisfaction.

Replacement Components

BioLite assembles the stove electricity, but they provide field distribution partners with parts, training, and financial incentives for continued service.

Lifecycle

This stove has a 1-year warranty and its estimated lifecycle is 5 years.  

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

BioLite develops core energy technologies (for 2018, over 20 innovative products) that are applicable to emerging markets customers by shipping hundreds of thousands of units to over 100 countries and establishing permanent in-country operations in East Africa within 35 full-time staff. This way, BioLite aims to build a self-sustaining market-based approach to serving energy needs in emerging markets. 

Vetted Performance Status

BioLite HomeStove reduces wood consumption by 50% and harmful smoke emission by 90%. Within a 10 min of charging, it gives 80 min of talk time on the phone and within 120 minutes, the battery is fully charged. It boils 1 litre of water in 5 minutes and 5 litres in 18 minutes.

Safety

Keep all flammable items away from the surrounding area of the stove, and do not enclose the area you are cooking within; proper ventilation is always required. Do not touch the body of the stove while in use. Further safety guidelines provided in the instruction manual and FAQs field.

Complementary Technical Systems

BioLite also commercialises the SolarHome 620+.

Academic Research and References

Anenberg, S., et al (2017). Air pollution-related health and climate benefits of clean cookstove programs in Mozambique. Environmental Research Letters, Volume 12, Number 2.

Darby W, J (2015). Ghana randomized air pollution and health study (GRAPHS): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2015. 16:420.

Sussan, T., et al (2015). C104 INDOOR AND OUTDOOR POLLUTION: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MECHANISMS: Field Testing Of Alternative Cookstoves Performance In A Rural Setting Of Western India. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine; New York Tomo 191, (2015): 1.

Ryan, G (2017), Heart of the Hearth: Making the Popular Clean, Not the Clean Popular – Technology Research, Development, and Tools for Clean Biomass Cookstoves. United States. doi:10.2172/1337926.

Further academic research here.

BioLite HomeStove | Special Limited Edition. 2018. www.youtube.com.

BioLite. n.d. bioliteenergy.com.

Clean Cooking Alliance – Clean Cooking Catalog: Results Report – BioLite HomeStove. n.d. www.catalag.cleancookstoves.org. Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

BioLite. n.d. BioLite Homestove. cdn.shopify.com. BioLite.

Mission. n.d. BioLite Global Impact.

International Standards Organization (ISO). n.d. ISO’s International Workshop Agreements.

Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. 2013. Interim Reporting Requirements for IWA Tiers of Performance. cleancooking.org. Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

Bailis, Rob. 2004. Controlled Cooking Test (CCT). www.cleancooking.org. Clean Cooking Alliance, Shell Foundation.

SolarHome 620+. n.d. BioLite.

 

Compliance with regulations

Testers rated the performance of this stove according to tier rankings established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)’s International Workshop Agreement (IWA). The testers rated this stove on emissions, indoor emissions and efficiency (but it was not tested on safety).

Evaluation methods

Controlled Cooking Test (CCT 2.0)

Other Information

BioLite HomeStove won Fast Company 2014 Innovation By Design Award.  The HomeStove was also the winner of the 2013 Core77 Awards in the Social Impact category.

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