Wisdom Stoves MJ

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$34.62

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Wisdom Innovations.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Wisdom Stove M2, Philips Fan Stove HD4012, AGNI Star Rice Husk Gas Stove, and ACE-1 Ultra Clean Biomass Cookstove.

Countries

Kenya, Zimbabwe

Manufacturing/Building Method

Mass customization in the Wisdom Stoves' facility in North Kinangop in Kenya with locally available materials and by trained local stove makers. A video about the production of the MJ stoves can be found in the references . Stove production currently on-going also in Zimbabwe.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

The stoves are distributed through microfinance institutions, Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs),  dairy co-operatives/societies and other organized groups. The stoves are delivered along with a training and follow-up session.

Distributions to Date Status

According to wPOWER over 3,700 cookstoves have been sold across four counties in Southwest Kenya: Kiambu, Nyandarau, Narok, and Nakuru, considered both MJ and M2 cookstoves models. From distributed stoves, over 3000 have been MJ stoves. Interview with representative

Design Specifications

The MJ Wisdom Stove is a Top-lift updraft gasifier and its design is composed of two modular parts: the Malaika Jiko cylinder and a ceramic insert unit below which where the charcoal is retained. Each part has its own air intake. The Malaika Jiko part consists of two concentric cylindrical containers, the inner one is the fuel cylinder and the outer serves as a structural component.

Both cylinders, the concentrator lid, riser and handles are mainly constructed with mild, galvanized or stainless steel metal sheets except the ceramic insert.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

User manual of the MJ stove is available in both English and Kwahili. It is possible to contact local technicians through a customer care line. Instructions on how to use the MJ stove also available on the webpage and in a video (see references).

Replacement Components

The ceramic chamber can be replaced. ^{Interview with representative}

Lifecycle

5 years.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

These were the performance targets when designing and implementing the MJ cookstove:

• Eliminate wait time for cooking
• Allow cooking and production of charcoal at the same time.
• Greatly reduce harmful smoke derivated from the biomass burning. 
• Produce just the right amount of charcoal to fill the traditional improved jiko.
• Reduce destruction of wood growth compared with current methods of charcoal production. 
• Create significant cost savings (1 sack of charcoal in Ksh = cost of one MJ)
• Increases awareness of conservation efforts in the areas of forestation, indoor air pollution, water resources and erosion. 
• Allow families to save money on fuel (biomass vs. charcoal, kerosene or propane)

Wisdom Innovation is currently looking for donours so as to raise 10,000 USD to make 100 stoves and distribute them freely to households in rural Zimbabwe. The second phase of the project comprehends the manufacturing of stoves for sale at half the 50 USD cost.

Vetted Performance Status

According to the manufacturer, this cookstove saves up to 75% of fuel, does not smoke and does not form soot on the pot when used correctly. It performs well when using wood, maize comb, crop steams and other dry biomass as fuel.

Safety

Potential hazards related to the operation of this product concerns respiratory diseases linked to the burning of traditional biomass and domestic accidents such as accidental burning or spill-overs.

Complementary Technical Systems

None.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Approved by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), responsible for governing and maintaining the standards and practices of metrology in Kenya. ^{Interview with representative}

Evaluation methods

Field trials by the organization. ^{Interview with representative}

Other Information

Wisdom Stoves was awarded with nearly 2 million USD in grants from Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves for accelerating adoption, production and/or distribution of cleaner, more efficient cookstoves and fuels in developing countries.