Paul:I think a “Declaration of Clean Cooking with Wood” is a great idea.
Change that to “Declaration of Clean Cooking with Woodgas” . My goal is that the TLUD stoves with wood fuel are fairly recognized as being worthy of being among the Modern Advanced Clean Cooking Soluton (MACCS), as in the “Classification….” that is based on GACC and ESMAP determinations.
I am not inclined to do what you advocate in your next sentence:
A broader, more emphatic claim needs to be made that improving combustion of solid fuels is possible, has a long history, just that adapting the principles to particular contexts takes time and that there are many other possibilities for biomass energy for small-scale thermal applications – BESSTA?
Too many variables. Too many conflicting claims. Too many reasons why direct burning of solids (in contrast to the TLUD burning of GASES FROM SOLIDS) has not been fruitful.
I do not try to knock any other biomass stoves (the “ICS” devices) from being considered, but I cannnot bring along in some overly broad declaration all of the ICS devices and their decades of baggage. But we (the solid dry biomass fuels users) need to have at least ONE that is accepted, to stop the blanket rejection of ALL wood and other dry biomass fuel. And that one with the best chances is the TLUD technology.
In the end, what will count is when there are actual success stories of major acceptance of TLUD (or some other biomass-fueled) stoves. And that is happening NOW in West Bengal, and will be reported at the GACC. Will anybody recognize such accomplishments? I do not know. But a “Declaration…..” can have many signatures, but it would have minimal impact if the “leadership” continues to ignore the solid results IN ACTUAL HOUSEHOLDS.
In contrast to success in the field, results like a declaration ON PAPER are easily ignored, just like any paper that declares Tier 4 results.
I am busy with other preparations for the GACC Forum. I will assist if someone else decides to make a “Declaration…”
Paul