How a Tiny Rocket Stove Can Help Save the World

Technology combines simple design with electric generation.

Campfires are nice but not always practical, and I wouldn't say I like the idea of always having to lug around fuel for my cookstove.

I love my new Biolite rocket stove. This portable alternative heats without fossil fuel fueled with twigs, small sticks, or a handful of wood pellets instead of whole logs. I can carry some dry fuel or pick up enough to cook supper nearly anywhere. A rocket stove can even burn dried animal dung!

Have you wondered what the heck’s a rocket stove?

These stoves burn fuel in a simple high-temperature combustion chamber, which combines a vertical chimney and a secondary air supply. This design allows nearly complete combustion to provide efficient heat with minimal fuel. With dry fuel, it creates very little smoke.

This concept can be used to create your own rocket stove of various sizes.

The same principles are used to make effective masonry stoves, adding thermal storage for maximum BTU benefit.

A masonry stove can be quickly built out of cinder blocks or utilizing adobe or cement for a more permanent heat or cooking source. I’ve seen examples that are beautiful and functional both as heat source and furniture.

Rocket stoves save lives in fuel-poor locations.

More than 1 billion people have limited access to electricity which causes them to rely on dangerous and expensive power sources.

According to a report in the World Bank blog, referring to Sub-Saharan Africa,

The problem is particularly acute because 82 percent of the population depends on charcoal, dung, fuelwood, and forms of biomass for cooking purposes.

Children don’t have light to study at night, and many women spend hours a day collecting fuel. In addition, smoky open fires contribute to four million deaths each year.

One Million People Living Safer, Brighter Lives

The BioLite company has a mission to:

Empower people and protect the planet through renewable energy.

In 2020, BioLite crossed the million lives milestone, bringing safe and reliable energy to over 1.7 million individuals in 23 countries across Africa and Asia.

To me, the beauty of the BioLite stoves is that they provide heat for cooking and power rechargeable batteries as they work. In my experience, it only took five minutes to bring a liter of cold water to boiling on the smallest model stove.

I can adjust the built-in heat-powered fan to control the fire temperature and use the attached light to check my cooking. All while charging the battery that will later charge my phone.

Parallel innovation provides stoves for those who need them.

While the BioLite company sells many products to be enjoyed by campers, travelers living the van life, and others with off-grid requirements, they also develop products for people needing emerging technology.

The profits from their consumer-directed stoves are reinvested to support their work for those living in energy poverty zones.

Build or buy, but try a rocket stove.

While I recommend the BioLite company because of its mission to reach underserved parts of the world, there are many manufacturers if you choose to buy a ready-built model.

For the do-it-yourselfer, check out these rocket stove plans on Mother Earth News.

So whether you’re looking to save money, build an affordable, portable and efficient camping stove, or have a backup in case of emergencies, a rocket stove is a no-brainer.