IOC introduces indoor solar cooking stove: Here's all you need to know about Surya Nutan

Jun 24,2022

IOC introduces indoor solar cooking stove: Here's all you need to know about Surya Nutan

New Delhi: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the leading oil firm in India, has developed the Surya Nutan, a fixed, rechargeable indoor cooking stove. The unique stove that uses the sun's energy to cook food can be kept in the kitchen all the time, unlike other solar cookers. The stove is being promoted as a replacement for fossil fuels and can be adopted by all since it just requires a one-time investment and zero maintenance. For good reason, solar cooking is gaining popularity all over the world. Solar energy is a free and renewable energy source with numerous advantages, including the fact that it does not harm the environment. Furthermore, Surya Nutan comes with the added advantage of using it indoors unlike other conventional solar stoves.

Additionally, a World Health Organization (WHO) research states that exposure to carcinogens from household air pollution caused by cooking with kerosene or solid fuels like wood, charcoal, or coal accounts for about 17 per cent of lung cancer deaths in adults. Women are more at risk because of their higher involvement in food preparation.
Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, had organised a gathering at his official residence where a full three-course meal was prepared on the stove.

How does Surya Nutan work?
The newly developed Surya Nutan was completely manufactured by IOC's research and development division at Faridabad, Haryana. Kept in the kitchen, it is powered by some attached cables that carry the solar energy captured through a PV panel (Photovoltaic Panel) placed outdoor or on the roof.
It gathers solar energy, transforms it into heat using a precisely customised heating element, stores the heat energy in a thermal battery that has been scientifically authenticated, and then transforms the heat energy back into electrical energy for use in indoor cooking. The energy collected not only supplies a family of four's daytime cooking needs but also their evening meal.
What is Surya Nutan's price?
Currently, the stove ranges in price from Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000. But, according to IOC officials, the price can drop from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per unit when economies of scale occur when 2-3 lakh units are produced and it receives some government help.

Maintenance
The stove has ten-year longevity and requires no maintenance. Also, it does not have a conventional battery that needs to be changed time and again. Even the solar panel used to supply energy to the stove has a 25-year lifespan.
What can the stove cook?
All types of cooking, including boiling, steaming, frying and making roti, can be done using the solar stove - Surya Nutan. Additionally, when the stove's charge is low or on an overcast day, an electrical grid can be used with it as a backup power source.
When will Surya Nutan be launched?
The commercial debut would take between two and three months, according to Hardeep Singh Puri. He added that the price of the stove could also drop further if there is sufficient demand.
IOC Director (R&D) SSV Ramakumar stated during the event held at Puri's house that the stove differs from solar cookers in that it does not require exposure to sunlight. He added that the prototype is currently being tested at 60 sites, including Ladakh where sun intensity is quite high. He added that its commercial manufacture would commence only after tests are finished.