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A pilot in rural Kenya demonstrated that solar irrigation systems with batteries can power electric pressure cookers (EPCs), leading to promising reductions in traditional fuel use. While EPCs were well-received, particularly by educated households, the impact was limited by battery constraints, competing energy needs, and gendered dynamics regarding energy control. The report suggests that scaling such secondary energy uses requires improved technology design, adequate battery storage, targeted financing, and behavioral support to ensure an equitable transition to clean energy.

The study found that using solar irrigation systems for secondary cooking purposes is feasible, with 63% of treated households using EPCs at least once weekly. While EPCs modestly reduced reliance on traditional fuels and increased battery electricity consumption by up to 26% among active users, adoption was constrained by limited battery capacity, competing energy needs for entertainment, and gendered disparities in energy control. Education was the strongest predictor of adoption, and high price sensitivity suggests a need for targeted subsidies or financing to scale the technology.

The document investigates whether health-based messaging can drive the adoption of clean cookstoves in Cambodia and Kenya. Findings from both studies indicate that health messaging has a minimal effect on actual purchases, with price and the efficacy of sales agents being more significant drivers. While the campaign in Cambodia increased awareness of health risks, awareness in Kenya was already high at the baseline. The research suggests that for health messaging to be effective, it must be combined with innovative financing to overcome affordability barriers and be better aligned with end-user needs.