5 Star StovesCreates local bio-energy value chain out of biomass waste



5 Star Stoves creates a local bio-energy value chain out of waste biomass, producing biomass pellets which are used in an updraft gasification stove to cook and heat. The stoves are assembled in the community and distributed locally via a franchising model. The enterprise thus generates income for the local community, encourages the more efficient use of natural resources and also improves energy security by using local bio assets.
The enterprise purchases biomass from pre-vetted and trained harvesters at a fixed price. The biomass is then pulverised, dried and densified into pellets and sold to stove users at a markup. Stoves are assembled locally and distributed in the community via a franchise model. Payment for the pellets is facilitated by a local service provider. This makes it possible to track and manage the business per stove user and so record carbon savings and business revenue per unit.
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Partners
Usizo Thuso is the first beneficiary of the 5 Star Stove demonstration facility. It supports the enterprise through bio-energy farming. 5 Star Stove is the farm’s first agro-processing venture.
Energy & Environment Partnership Southern & East Africa promotes renewable energy and clean technology investments and co-funded 5 Star Stove's first demonstration facility and the following roll-out.
The Small Enterprise Development Agency provides business training and mentoring and helps streamline the enterprise on the basis of the government support directive.
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Supporters

The 2013 SEED Awards in South Africa are supported by the European Union, which is made up of 28 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies.

The 2018 SEED Low Carbon Awards in Uganda, Colombia, Tanzania, India and Thailand were primarily supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

2017 SAG-SEED Awards is supported by the SWITCH-Africa Green project, which is implemented by UNEP with the assistance of the European Union.

The 2016 SAG-SEED Awards are supported by the SWITCH-Africa Green project, which is implemented by UNEP with the assistance of the European Union.