New Biochar Stoves at the 2009 Ethos Conference in Washington State, USA
Kelpie Wilson, IBI Media Liaison
On January 23 – 25, about 100 “stovers” gathered in Kirkland, Washington for the annual ETHOS (Engineers in Technical and Humanitarian Opportunities of Service) conference devoted to meeting household energy needs in the developing world. Improved stove technology was only part of a program that included discussion of standards and testing, distribution and manufacturing, and the intricacies of carbon credit financing.
The highlight of the conference occurred at the ceremonial “lighting of the stoves” late on Sunday afternoon on the concrete steps outside the conference hall under a light flurry of snow. A variety of innovative designs were on display, but only two of the stoves were able to operate in a pyrolysis mode to produce charcoal.
The International Biochar Initiative (IBI)
