Bangalore: Cooking meals for a large number of pilgrims, students, employees and even jawans using solar steam cooking systems can be a profitable proposition, apart from helping save precious fuel and energy.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), Sringeri Shankar Mutt, Shirdi Sai Baba Samsthan, Brahma Kumaris' in Mount Abu, the Indian Army in Ladakh, Rishi Valley School in Madanapalle, Sanghi Industries in Andhra Pradesh, Rishi Sanskriti Vidya Kendralaya in Bangalore, Veerayatan School at Kutch in Gujarat, a school and hospital run by Muni Seva Ashram in Baroda, Perk School in Coimbatore, St. Xavier's Technical School in Gujarat, two schools run by Yogi Divine Society in Gujarat, the tribal school and hostel run by Devalaya in Gujarat, Sathyabhama College in Chennai and the Waghad Hospital in Gujarat, which have set up solar-powered kitchens, will vouch for it.

The energy saved as a result of using solar steam cooking systems and the resultant low carbon dioxide emission are quantified using a conversion factor. These entities are then issued certificates to trade in carbon credits or certified emission reduction (CERs). Each CER stands for one tonne equivalent of CO{-2} reductions and can be traded globally.

The Kyoto Protocol that came into force from February 16 this year makes it obligatory for 37 developed nations to reduce their emissions of six greenhouse gases, including CO{-2}, through a combination of direct domestic action or by investing in developing countries that lower these emission levels. Under the protocol, developed nations have to reduce their CO{-2} emissions by 5.5 per cent based on the levels prevailing in 1990, till 2012.

Gujarat-based Gadhia Solar Energy Systems Private Ltd., which has installed these solar steam cooking systems, will shortly enter into an emission reduction purchase agreement with the German Government for selling CERs worth 5,500 tonnes till 2012 for 12 euros ($15) a tonne on behalf of 12 clients operating solar kitchens. Of the 12 projects, four have been installed while eight are in the process of being set up.

German Travel Agency Atmosfair will also buy CERs worth 500 tonnes till 2012 at 12 euros a tonne from the solar kitchens installed by Gadhia Solar promoted by process and environment engineer Deepak Gadhia and his wife Shirin Gadhia, a Ph.D. in genetic engineering. Faced with poor prospects after air travellers became environment friendly and cut down on travel, Atmosfair started the concept of flying on carbon-neutral tickets. This implied that the CO{-2} generated during air travel is compensated by supporting environment-friendly projects through purchase of CERs.

"The money coming from the sale of CERs to the German Government and Atmosfair will accrue entirely to the entities that have installed these solar kitchens," Mr. Gadhia told The Hindu .

Entities in industrialised countries are also buying carbon credits voluntarily or voluntary emission reductions (VERs) to offset CO{-2} emissions and boost their green image. For instance, Gadhia Solar has received a letter of intent from a Swiss consultancy firm, Factor, to negotiate with seven solar steam cooking system users to sell 1,000 tonnes of carbon credits every year to a Swiss company for 12 euros a tonne.

"As per the deal, 20 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of carbon credits will go directly to the solar kitchen clients while the balance 80 per cent will go into a revolving fund. We hope to utilise the revolving fund to make solar steam cooking systems available for the rural poor of India," Mr. Gadhia said. Solar steam cooking is viable for cooking meals for a large number of people as in the case of the TTD where meals can be cooked for 15,000 people at a time for serving 30,000 devotees a day, thereby saving an equivalent of 200 litres of diesel a day.

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