Cooking with Electricity: A Cost Perspective – Virtual Report Launch
Time: 9:00 – 10:00 AM EST
Date: November 23, 2020
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ESMAP and the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) program’s recent report seeks to build the evidence base on whether cooking with electricity could make a significant contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through five case studies, the report compares the current and projected costs to the consumer of a range of electric cooking solutions with the costs of cooking with currently widely-used fuels in each context.
The findings challenge the widespread perception that electricity is too expensive for cooking in developing countries and show that cooking with energy-efficient appliances can already be a cost-effective option for many consumers, in particular those in grid-connected urban centers. By 2025, anticipated increases in charcoal prices and the falling costs of battery-supported solutions suggest that cooking with electricity will become increasingly viable even in weak-grid and off-grid contexts. Unlocking these emerging opportunities could enable transformative impact for the 2.8 billion people still cooking with biomass; however, it will take concerted effort to create an enabling environment that can facilitate the integration of electric cooking into both clean cooking and electrification planning.
This event will begin with a presentation by the co-authors of the report on the key findings followed by a panel conversation with energy practitioners on what these findings mean for developing countries looking to enable the transition to electric cooking.