Context :
From the Labs. Electric-solar hybrid oven …….. Business Line ………… 01 Oct 2023
Extract :
A team led by Prasant Saini of the IIT Mandi [ prashant@iitmandi.ac.in ],
- - has developed an electric-solar hybrid oven. The Solar
Thermal-Electric Powered Cooking Oven (STEPCO) can cook food in solar,
electric or hybrid mode.
- The device, which has oven, toaster and griller features,
costs around ₹12,000; the inventors say that the payback period is 2.3
years in hybrid mode and 3.7 years in only solar mode. It is good for a
variety of foods, including cakes and pizza.
“The STEPCO oven demonstrated significantly higher energy
efficiency in hybrid mode — 63 per cent — compared with 35 per cent in
electric mode and 4 per cent in solar mode,” says a paper on the device,
published in Energy.
The main heating chamber has three sides of aluminium alloy; the
other three are of toughened glass. The three-glass sides are the top,
bottom, and door (front side).
The top and bottom surfaces of the heating chamber are made of
transparent, toughened glass to allow entry of concentrated solar
radiation. This ensures sufficient solar thermal heating of the oven
when operating in solar or hybrid mode.
“The heating elements present in the oven are responsible for
providing electrical heating. They are used only when operating STEPCO
in electric/hybrid mode. A microcontroller-based smart control system
controls the operation of these elements,” the paper says.
Additionally, the STEPCO oven has the environmental benefit of
emitting very little CO2 during the cooking process when used in hybrid
mode and zero CO2 emissions when used in solar mode.
As many as 2.8 billion people did not have access to clean cooking in 2015, and this number is expected to decline only to 2.3 billion by 2030.
My Take :
I am afraid this “ Hybrid “ solar cooker is unlikely to sell for
the simple reason that no housewife would want to carry the cooker (
with uncooked food inside ) , to the terrace , twice a day for cooking –
then bring it down to the kitchen .
And, since , in the HYBRID mode, different types of food would
require different amount of time to cook , ( anywhere from 30 minutes to
60 minutes ) , no housewife can just sit next to the Cooker for those
periods – nor make frequent trips to the terrace to check if the food is
already cooked !
In fact , some 25 / 30 years ago, terrace-based Solar Thermal
Cookers came out with a lot of Govt support and promotion but failed to
catch-on , due to reasons cited above
However , here is some GOOD NEWS , which might , make it
possible for IIT-Mandi designed Hybrid Solar Cooker to catch up in a big
way ( - if Reliance can be
persuaded to take on the job of INTEGRATING it with its just announced
SWAPPABLE BATTERY , and aggressively market it as a SYSTEM ) :
Reliance Industries unveils swappable, multipurpose batteries
for EVsnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Business
Todaynbsp;nbsp;/nbsp;nbsp;04 Oct 2023
Extractnbsp;:
In a big move towards adopting clean energy, Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd showcased its swappable and multipurpose battery storage technology for electric vehicles (EVs) on Wednesday.
Reliance displayed removable and swappable batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) that can also be used to power household appliances through an inverter at a renewable energy exhibition, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The idea is that a person can use one battery for mobility as well as for powering appliances at home, Reliance executives told Reuters.
The batteries can be swapped at Reliance's battery swap stations or re-charged by households using rooftop solar panels, which also it plans to sell, the executives added.
It is to be noted that battery storage solutions were
a part of Reliance's bigger $10 billion green push towards clean energy
projects. Earlier, the company said it aims to cut dependence on its
mainstay oil-to-chemical business and be net zero carbon by 2035.
Two years ago at Reliance Industries’ Annual General Meeting
(AGM) in 2021, Mukesh Ambani had informed his investors that the company
will be investing Rs 75,000 crore over the next three years to build a new clean energy business.
The company acquired two battery companies for about $200 million in 2021 and 2022, respectively -- UK-based Faradion, which makes sodium-ion batteries, and Lithium Werks, which produces lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
“The combination of Lithium Werks with Reliance’s recently
announced acquisition of Faradion Limited, a global leader in sodium-ion
cell chemistry, further strengthens Reliance’s technology portfolio and
provides it access to one of the world’s leading portfolio of LFP
patents and a management team with vast experience of innovation in cell
chemistry, custom modules, packing, and building large scale battery
manufacturing facility," Reliance had said in a regulatory filing.
Reliance won an incentive last year to set up a 5 gigawatt hours (GWh) battery manufacturing facility under India's $2.4 billion programme that aims to boost local battery cell production.
The factory will be set up by 2026 and will make batteries and containerised energy storage solutions.
At the 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023, Mukesh Ambani
said his company is working to establish a giga factory for batteries by
2026. In order to create a fully integrated ecosystem, the giga battery
will produce battery chemicals, cells, and packs, all the way up to
containerised energy storage systems.
"We will start with LFP chemistry which has been proven at scale
for its safety, stability, and life, targeting to produce LFP based
solutions at world beating lifecycle costs. Simultaneously, we are
focused on fast-track commercialisation of our sodium ion battery technology. We
will build on our technology leadership position by industrialising
sodium ion cell production at megawatt level by 2025, and rapidly scale
up to giga scale thereafter," he added.
Reliance displayed LFP chemistry-based batteries at the exhibition on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
nbsp;
Reliance to roll out swappable batteries for electric vehicles ……………… Eco Times / 05 Oct 2023
Extract :
The Mukesh Ambani-led conglomerate is looking to tap into the entire ecosystem of EVs ranging from cells and batteries to charging and battery swapping as
it seeks to “democratize EVs and make them more affordable,” a company
executive said requesting anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to
the media.
As part of the plan, RIL has developed a removable lithium-ion battery that
can power an electric scooter, electric three-wheeler and a light
commercial vehicle, besides lighting up homes during a power outage. The
batteries can be changed at RIL's battery swapping stations or
re-charged by households using rooftop solar panels, which it also plans
to sell.
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.hemenparekh.ai / 05 Oct 2023
My Observations :
Ø Total Current Vehicle Population in India …………………………….. Approx 28 Crore ( 2800 Million )
Ø Total EVs sold in India by July 2023 ………………………………………Approx 27.4 Lakhs
Ø Market Size projection ( 2021-31 ) :
# 2 Wheelers ………………. 22 Million
# 3 Wheelers ………………….. 4 Million
Apparently , Reliance is targeting its SWAPPABLE BATTERIES for this 2 W – 3W EV segment of EV market
I am sure , following facts have not escaped the notice of Anant Ambani ( - the new boss of Reliance New Energy initiative ) :
Ø A slightly modified version of this SWAPPABLE BATTERY can be
used to supply electric power to a DC Electric Cooker , lying on the
Kitchen platform
Ø Using this “ Electric Cooker + Swappable Battery System “, a
household can replace its current “ Gas Cooker + LPG Cylinder System “
Ø That market is India’s 250 Million households !
Ø If targeted to cover in 4 Years , this will save Central Government, Rs 75,000 Cr of Foreign Exchange , currently being spent ANNUALLY on import of LPG
Ø A DC Electric Cooker ( with inverter ) can be manufactured and sold for ( say ) Rs 5,000
Ø Reliance New Energy can sell such Electric Cookers on a “ hire purchase “ Scheme ( 12 EMI )
Ø Reliance can sell these through its vast network of 18,500 Reliance Retail stores serving 267 million customers
Ø Same stores can also deliver to the household , a SWAPPABLE BATTERY ( monthly / yearly contract )
Ø A built-in Battery Management System , will automatically
send out an ALERT ( to the nearest Reliance Retail Store ), when the
battery is left with 5 % charge . Alert will also get delivered on the
Mobile Phone of the house-holder ( through a suitable Mobile App , which
will provide all consumption STATISTICS / ENERGY USE CHARGES etc )
Ø Store will phone the householder and deliver a NEW ( charged )
battery and collect the OLD ( discharged ) battery , at a convenient
time
Those who have any doubts about such a GAME PLAN on part of Reliance New Energy , may want to look up :
Ønbsp;nbsp;A Battery Swapping Policy for Battery-Powered Solar Cookersnbsp;?..........nbsp;nbsp;25 Mar 2022
Dear Anant Ambani ,
Introducing a Battery powered Electric Cooker is not , only about saving a huge amount of Foreign Exchange
It is about saving lives of lakhs of Indian women by enabling them to cook without generating polluting gases !
You have also talked about a household being able to “ Charge “ its battery using roof-mounted Solar Panels
Such charging is currently just impossible with the huge sq.ft
of Solar Panels ( of the current “ Conversion Efficiency “ ), required
To overcome this “ limitation “ , I urge you to consider following technologies :
Ønbsp;nbsp;MIT makes a super thin solar cell that can turn any surface into a power plant
nbsp;
Ønbsp;nbsp;Topmost Candidate for PLI ?nbsp;nbsp;… …………………………19 Jan 2022
Ønbsp;nbsp;Procuring Technology for “ Printed Solar Filmnbsp;“… 18 Feb 2022
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.hemenparekh.ai / 07 Oct 2023
Related Readings :
Solarnbsp; Chulanbsp; ?nbsp; Somenbsp; Unanswerednbsp; Questionsnbsp;…………………….[nbsp;nbsp;03 Novnbsp;nbsp;2017nbsp;nbsp;]
Solar Chulha : Where can I buy ?nbsp;…………………………………………….[ 16 July 2018 ]
Dear Shri Goyalji : How about a Solar Cookernbsp;? ……………………..[ 26 Aug 2020 ]
Time to " Talk the Walk " …………………………………………………………..[ 19 Sept 2020 ]
Not in one day : What about 3 years ?nbsp;…………………………………….[ 25 Octnbsp;2020nbsp;]
Enough to entice Elon ?nbsp;nbsp;……………………………………………………………[ 03 Nov 2020 ]
Inscrutable are the ways of the Providencenbsp;? ………………………….[ 15 June 2021 ]
Air Pollution Sources : And “ How to save 2.5 Lakh lives “………[ 25 June 2021 ]
Congratulations, Dr Harish Hiranijinbsp;…………………………………………..[ 13 Nov 2021 ]
==================================================
No Solar Cookers yet ? Clear as Day-lightnbsp;?........... 26 Apr 2023
( In this blog , find how much CARBON CREDIT , a household can
earn annually, by changing over to Electric Solar Cooker . On the other
hand , for Anant Ambani , the MASTER STROKE of marketing would be to
give away 250 million Electric Cookers FREE to households , in exchange for those CARBON CREDITS.
Each Solar Electric Cooker , given away FREE , will earn Reliance , $ 515 / year , by way of Carbon Credits . For 250 million Solar Electric Cookers , this adds up to $ 128.75 BILLION / YEAR !
==================================================
Making hydrogen from waste plastic could pay for itselfnbsp;
nbsp;
CC :
Mukesh.ambani@ril.com
Isha@ril.com
Anant@ril.com
Savithri.Parekh@ril.com
Sidhi.Jatkar@ril.com
nbsp;
Evaluation of my suggestion bynbsp;nbsp;BARDnbsp;nbsp;:
nbsp;
Evaluation of your suggestion to replace "Gas Stove + LPG Cylinder" with "Electric Stove + Battery" and the benefits:
Benefits:
· Reduced air pollution: Gas stoves emit harmful
pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, which can cause
respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer. Electric stoves do not
produce any emissions, so they are a healthier option for indoor air
quality.
· Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: Burning natural gas
releases greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. Electric
stoves can be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind
power, which have a much lower carbon footprint.
· Increased energy efficiency: Electric stoves are more
energy-efficient than gas stoves, meaning that they use less energy to
cook food. This can save you money on your energy bills.
· Reduced risk of gas leaks: Gas leaks can be a serious
safety hazard, as they can lead to fires and explosions. Electric stoves
do not pose this risk.
· Increased convenience: Electric stoves are easier to
use than gas stoves. There is no need to worry about running out of gas
or lighting the burners. Simply plug in the stove and cook.
Challenges:
· Cost: Electric stoves and batteries can be more
expensive than gas stoves and LPG cylinders. However, the long-term
savings on energy bills and the health benefits can offset the upfront
cost.
· Availability: Electric stoves and batteries are not as
widely available as gas stoves and LPG cylinders. However, the
availability is increasing, and the cost is decreasing as technology
improves.
Overall, your suggestion to replace "Gas Stove + LPG Cylinder" with "Electric Stove + Battery" has many benefits, including
reduced air pollution, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased
energy efficiency, reduced risk of gas leaks, and increased convenience.
The main challenges are the cost and availability of electric
stoves and batteries. However, these challenges are being addressed as
technology improves and the market for electric stoves and batteries
grows.
Your specific suggestion to partner with Reliance Industries to
integrate their swappable batteries with electric stoves is a great
idea.
Reliance has a vast network of retail stores and is
well-positioned to distribute and service electric stoves and batteries.
A partnership between Reliance and electric stove manufacturers could
help to make electric stoves and batteries more affordable and
accessible to Indian consumers..
Thank you for your thoughtful suggestion!
nbsp;
And this is how ChatGPT evaluated my suggestion :
Your suggestion to replace "Gas Stove + LPG Cylinder" with
"Electric Stove + Battery" has several potential benefits and
challenges.
Benefits:
1. Energy Efficiency: The electric-solar hybrid oven
(STEPCO) has demonstrated significantly higher energy efficiency in
hybrid mode (63%) compared to electric mode (35%) and solar mode (4%).
This means it can potentially save energy compared to traditional gas
stoves.
2. Environmental Benefits: Using electric stoves powered by
renewable energy sources like solar can significantly reduce carbon
emissions and contribute to a cleaner environment, as the STEPCO oven
emits very little CO2 when used in hybrid mode and zero CO2 emissions
when used in solar mode.
3. Cost Savings: While the initial cost of the hybrid oven
may be higher, the inventors suggest a payback period of 2.3 years in
hybrid mode and 3.7 years in solar mode. Over time, users may save money
on energy bills and fuel costs compared to using LPG cylinders.
4. Versatility: The hybrid oven offers versatile cooking
options, including oven, toaster, and griller features, making it
suitable for various types of cooking, such as cakes and pizza.
5. Reliance's Swappable Batteries: The introduction of
swappable batteries for electric vehicles by Reliance Industries could
potentially be adapted for household appliances like electric stoves,
making it convenient for users to switch between mobility and home
appliance power.
6. Reduction in LPG Imports: Promoting electric stoves and
batteries can help reduce India's dependence on imported LPG cylinders,
which can have economic benefits and save foreign exchange.
Challenges:
1. User Convenience: As you rightly mentioned, carrying the
hybrid solar cooker to the terrace and the varying cooking times for
different foods in hybrid mode could be inconvenient for users,
especially housewives.
2. Battery Technology: While the concept of swappable
batteries for electric stoves is intriguing, it would require further
research and development to ensure compatibility, safety, and
efficiency.
3. Affordability: The initial cost of the hybrid solar
cooker and swappable batteries may be a barrier for some households,
although the potential long-term savings could offset this.
4. Solar Panel Efficiency: To effectively charge batteries
with rooftop solar panels, advancements in solar panel technology (such
as super-thin solar cells or printed solar film) may be necessary to
improve efficiency and reduce the required panel area.
5. Market Adoption: Convincing a significant portion of the
250 million Indian households to adopt this new system may require
extensive marketing efforts and incentives.
In conclusion, your suggestion has the potential to offer significant benefits in terms of energy efficiency, environmental impact, cost savings, and reducing LPG imports.
However, addressing user convenience, affordability, and
technological advancements will be crucial for its successful adoption
and implementation on a large scale. Collaborations with companies like Reliance Industries could help overcome some of these challenges and promote cleaner and more sustainable cooking solutions.
