Notably, in the year 2022, India imported over 17 million metric tons of LPG, an increase from the year 2021.
With rising fuel prices and increasing supply pressures, India needs a clean, sustainable and affordable e-cooking solution – one that also reduces its dependence on imports and increases energy security.
Besides, the IEA estimates that cooking resulted in 498 Mt of CO2 emissions in 2020.
Having said that, on this year's World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, 2023, the Government of India is holding a “Conference on Consumer-Centric Approaches for E-cooking Transition” in New Delhi, in order to reduce India's dependency on traditional fuels and LPG.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 50% of the global population currently relies on gas, including LPG, as their primary cooking fuel, representing almost 70% of all urban dwellers and 30% of rural populations.
In India, 54% of households continue to use traditional solid fuels such as firewood, dung cakes, agriculture residue, charcoal, and kerosene, either exclusively or by stacking them with LPG, increasing the exposure to indoor air pollution.
As per the WHO report, in low- and middle-income countries, 3.2 million premature deaths occur each year from illnesses attributable to the household air pollution caused by cooking with solid fuel and kerosene.
The Conference
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The upcoming conference, on this World Environment Day, will explore pathways to accelerate the deployment of energy-efficient, clean and affordable electric-cooking solutions. Organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India, in collaboration with CLASP, the conference brings together institutional consumers, consumer research groups, policy makers, think tanks, manufacturers, and other enablers to drive dialogue and discuss strategy for the transition to electric cooking.
The conference on Consumer-Centric Approaches for E-cooking Transition will explore enablers for adoption of e-cooking solutions such as finance, demand aggregation, carbon credits and business models. It will also brainstorm on consumer-centric approaches and behaviours to bring about the e-cooking transition.
In addition, the conference will have a presentation by Energy Efficiency Services Limited, on e-cooking market transformation program and a presentation by BEE on initiatives undertaken to promote e-cooking. Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ajay Tewari will deliver the special address while Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Abhay Bakre will deliver the keynote address.
The conference is being held at Salon West, Hyatt Regency, New Delhi.
Electric Cooking Appliances
In electric cooking technologies, there are two options — Electric Heating and Induction.A traditional electric stove has a glass or ceramic cooking surface with heating elements underneath. As the coil gets hot, it starts to glow and transfers the heat to the surface through infrared energy.
While Induction technology, which uses magnetic current instead of infrared energy, has advanced to offer the most sophisticated cooktop experience today. Induction technology is safer, cooler and easier to clean.
However, availability of electricity is still a concern for regions facing scarcity of the electricity or for communities experiencing energy poverty. But expert research shows that solutions like electric pressure cookers and low wattage induction cooktops are cheaper than LPG in many regions.
Speaking on the government’s thrust on clean cooking, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ajay Tewari said: “Recognizing the health, economic, and environmental benefits of clean cooking, the Government of India has prioritised policies that promote cleaner cooking fuels. With tremendous strides being made on electrification, as well as an increasing share of electricity supply being generated from renewable energy, electric cooking solutions provide a great opportunity to propel India towards a climate-friendly, healthier and sustainable future.
The focus on electric cooking is based on the recognition that e-cooking is a key pathway to Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), an India-led global mass movement to nudge individual and community action to protect and preserve the environment.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021, Mission LiFE seeks to transform persons into pro-planet people, who would adopt sustainable lifestyles.
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