Every community kitchen has a fuel. Most of them are paying more than they think for it. This guide puts firewood, charcoal, LPG and solar electric cooking side by side for a kitchen serving 500 meals a day.
Key facts
- Firewood for 500 meals a day typically runs 1.5–2.5 tonnes a month plus the labour to gather or buy it.
- Charcoal costs more per meal than firewood and its price rises every year as forests are cleared.
- LPG is clean but imported and priced in dollars; supply breaks when the cylinder runs out.
- A solar electric kitchen has no fuel cost at all after installation; electric pressure cookers use 60–70% less energy than open pots.
Cost per meal
- Firewood: lowest cash cost where it is gathered free — but hours of labour, smoke and deforestation.
- Charcoal: usually the most expensive per meal in cities and camps.
- LPG: clean and fast, typically 2–4 times the cost of firewood per meal, with supply risk.
- Solar electric: zero fuel cost; the kitchen is paid for once and runs on sunlight for 20+ years.
Ten-year view
Over ten years a 500-meal kitchen burns through the price of a solar kitchen several times over in firewood or charcoal, and many times over in LPG. The solar kitchen's cost is fixed on day one; the others rise with inflation and scarcity.
Health and time
- No smoke: household air pollution from open fires is one of the biggest health risks for women and children in Africa.
- No fire-lighting: cooks start the day cooking, not gathering wood or coaxing coals.
- Pressure cooking: beans in under an hour instead of three — less energy, more menu options.
See the four solar kitchen sizes and what each feeds.
Talk to Frontières BayFrequently asked
Can solar cooking handle traditional dishes?
Yes. Pressure cookers and induction hobs handle beans, stews, rice, porridge and fried dishes; frying is done on the induction hob with ordinary pans.
What if the sun is weak for several days?
The battery carries a full day's cooking and the array is oversized by 15%. For longer spells the hybrid inverter can take grid or a small generator — rarely needed in most of Africa.