Biomass-based Improved Cookstoves (ICS) | 16 Apr 2026

Source: TH 

Recently, amid the LPG supply crisis, the relevance of modern biomass-based Improved Cookstoves (ICS) has come into focus, especially as many rural households shift back to firewood, raising concerns about cleaner cooking alternatives. 

• About: Improved Cookstoves (ICS) are advanced biomass stoves designed to improve combustion efficiency and reduce emissions compared to traditional chulhas. 
• Efficiency Improvement:  ICS achieve 38–45% efficiency, significantly higher than traditional chulhas, which, due to poor airflow and substantial heat loss, operate at around 10% efficiency. 
• Advantages:  
  • Technologies like secondary aeration in  ICS help capture soot and harmful gases before they turn into smoke, improving indoor air quality. 
  • ICS can reduce firewood consumption by over 50–66%, lowering resource pressure. 
  • Firewood (≈₹10/kg) is much cheaper than LPG (>₹100/kg), offering potential savings of over 60%, especially during supply disruptions. 
  • ICS can use pellets, briquettes, crop residue and dung, expanding fuel options and reducing pressure on raw firewood. 
• Financing Model: Emission reductions can generate carbon credits, helping subsidise costs through microfinance and CSR initiatives. 
• Supply and Scalability: Large-scale adoption does not require massive centralized infrastructure, as fuels like firewood and crop waste are locally available.  
  • However, scaling depends on strong distribution networks, last-mile delivery, local partnerships, and user awareness. After-sales support is essential for sustained usage. 
• Challenges: Key issues include upfront costs, awareness gaps, and logistical constraints; although emissions are reduced compared to traditional stoves, they may still be higher than LPG.