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 EVs .
Business Today / 04 Oct 2023
Extract :
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.
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 :
Ø A
Battery Swapping Policy for Battery-Powered Solar Cookers ?.......... 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 :
Ø MIT
makes a super thin solar cell that can turn any surface into a power plant
Ø Topmost
Candidate for PLI ? … …………………………19
Jan 2022
Ø Procuring
Technology for “ Printed Solar Film “… 18 Feb 2022
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.hemenparekh.ai / 07
Oct 2023
Related Readings :
Solar Chula ?
Some Unanswered Questions …………………….[ 03 Nov 2017 ]
Solar Chulha : Where can I buy ? …………………………………………….[
16 July 2018 ]
Dear Shri Goyalji : How about a Solar Cooker ?
……………………..[ 26 Aug 2020 ]
Not in one day : What about 3 years ? …………………………………….[
25 Oct 2020 ]
Enough to entice Elon ? ……………………………………………………………[
03 Nov 2020 ]
Inscrutable are the ways of the Providence ?
………………………….[ 15 June 2021 ]
Congratulations, Dr Harish Hiraniji …………………………………………..[
13 Nov 2021 ]
==================================================
No
Solar Cookers yet ? Clear as Day
( 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 itself
CC :
Mukesh.ambani@ril.com
Isha@ril.com
Anant@ril.com
Savithri.Parekh@ril.com
Evaluation of my suggestion
by BARD :
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!
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.
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