(i) It is the first-ever project in India and Asia registered and verified under SD VISta contributing to 10 SDG parameters.
(ii) The project addresses the urgent need for clean cooking solutions in India where some 800 million people still cook using conventional mud stoves/3 stone inefficient cookstoves.
(iii) It also creates livelihood opportunities while advancing Sustainable Development Goals.
India, — June, 2024: EKI Energy Services Ltd., a leading global developer and supplier of carbon credits in the International Voluntary Carbon Markets, today announced the registration and issuance of its first improved biomass cookstove project under the VERRA’s Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta), the world’s premier standard for certifying sustainable development impacts. This groundbreaking project is the first of its kind to be verified and validated with SD VISta not only in India but across Asia. It aims to produce exceptional environmental and community benefits while advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Situated in India, where over 800 million people still use conventional mud stoves, the clean cooking initiative is poised to make a significant impact. India, ranking third in overall CO2 emissions globally, will benefit greatly from the distribution of improved cookstoves, which will help mitigate climate change. The project’s activities address multiple aspects of rural living, often overlooked in discussions about scientific and societal progress.
The project aims to provide enhanced efficient cookstoves (ICS) to rural and economically disadvantaged households across six states: Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. It seeks to achieve two primary goals: the distribution of efficient ICS among these states’ rural families, and the creation of livelihood opportunities related to its distribution and maintenance. The project will enable household-level access to cleaner and efficient energy.
Mr. Manish Dabkara, Chairman & MD of EKI Energy Services Ltd. (EKI), said, “As we embark on this transformative journey, let us remember that every clean cookstove distributed represents more than just a tool for cooking – it symbolizes hope, empowerment and a brighter future for communities across India. Together, we are not only reducing emissions and protecting our environment but also uplifting lives and paving the way for sustainable development. Our commitment to innovation and social responsibility drives us forward, as we strive to create a world where every individual has access to clean energy and opportunity.”
Mr. Ramkrishna Patil, President, Operations – Climate Change, EKI Energy Services Ltd., said, “As we pioneer Asia’s first registered and verified biomass cookstove project under VERRA’s SD VISta, we’re not only mitigating climate change but also improving health and transforming livelihoods across India. This initiative empowers local communities, particularly women, through clean cooking technology. By addressing energy poverty and promoting sustainable practices, we’re making significant strides towards achieving multiple SDGs, enhancing both environmental stewardship and social equity.”
The biomass cookstoves, address a critical need by providing affordable cooking solutions for communities that cannot afford higher-end options like LPG and electric. These biomass cookstoves not only reduce household expenses and drudgery but also promote sustainable energy practices, ensuring equitable access to clean cooking technology. The project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.4 tCO2e annually per cookstove and 2,700,000 tCO2e annually for the entire project over the crediting period. Further, it is projected to generate 9.45 million Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) over its lifespan.
The project’s objectives through the distribution and implementation of ICS include reducing demand for woody biomass as fuel; minimizing local deforestation; lessening the drudgery of wood fuel collection, primarily performed by women and children; reducing time spent cooking over open fires, thus decreasing exposure to toxic smoke; increasing time for improving quality of life through economic activities and knowledge dissemination; improving health status by reducing exposure to household air pollutants (HAPs).
Aligned with sustainable development objectives, the project ensures economic, social and environmental well-being, contributing significantly to SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 7, SDG 8, SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, and SDG 15.
ICS provides clean energy which is a basic service necessary to lead a healthy and productive life, including saving time and money at the household level. Further, the project generates employment opportunities, both long-term as well as short-term.
Reduced emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) result in lower household air pollution, improving the well-being of women and children. Additionally, it reduces accidental burns in infants and children and decreases the consumption of poorly prepared food.
The project enhances vocational skills of individuals through training on climate change, sustainable development, health and nutrition. This improves job prospects and empowers individuals for long-term employment post-project completion with ongoing vocational training.
Improved cookstoves reduce women’s and children’s drudgery by saving time on firewood collection and cooking over smoky fires. They cook meals faster, saving approximately an hour compared to traditional stoves, allowing more time for children’s, especially, girls’ education.
As a clean cooking technology, ICS provides an essential tool to address energy poverty and ensure sustainable energy security in numerous households in India. Throughout the project lifecycle, the project aims to generate an overall positive impact on the community.
During the current monitoring period, the project has created employment opportunities in the SME manufacturing sector and hired local individuals, with a particular focus on women, for full-time and part-time positions in the distribution unit of the informal sector.
Since installing ICSs, all end users have completely stopped using open fires. The portability of ICSs allows easy installation anywhere in the home, providing security against environmental risks such as CO2, CO, and PM2.5 emissions. Their closed combustion chamber and stable base also reduce accidental burns in infants and children. Regular monitoring shows significant reductions in fire incidents and emissions compared to baseline stoves, promoting a safer and healthier cooking environment.
The project has reduced a significant amount of renewable biomass consumption during the current monitoring period. This promotes the efficient utilization of renewable biomass resources while achieving sustainable energy practices.
The project ensures the reduction of fuelwood consumption for cooking purposes which not only reduces the amount of GHG emissions being released in the atmosphere but also reduces the burden on forest ecosystems in and around the project area.
Forests, often public spaces, are frequently used for fuelwood collection, contributing significantly to deforestation and degradation. Distributing ICSs reduces fuelwood consumption, easing pressure on forests. The widespread use and efficiency of ICSs ensure better management of protected areas within communities.
With these ambitious targets, EKI’s cookstove project sets a new benchmark for sustainable development and environmental protection. In addition to its environmental and community benefits, the biomass cookstove project exemplifies CSR by fostering economic empowerment and sustainable development in the regions it serves. EKI’s subsidiary, GHG Reduction Technologies Pvt. Ltd., based in Nashik, plays a pivotal role in manufacturing improved cookstoves. GHG is pioneering the large-scale manufacturing and supply of clean cooking devices for underprivileged communities in India and Africa.
Click here to know how EKI’s Clean Cooking Initiative is impacting lives across regions.
EKI Energy Services Ltd. is a leading Carbon Credit Developer & Supplier across the globe. It is the first ever company to list a Plastic Project from India with Verra – a global accreditation standard located in Washington, USA. Founded in 2008, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) listed company has been passionately working towards rehabilitating the planet to a future of net-zero carbon emissions. EKI offers sustainable solutions for climate change and carbon offsets with global standards like CDM, VCS, Gold Standard, GCC, IREC, TIGR and others. With an aim to contribute to the development of a climate resilient global economy, the company offers strategic solutions to businesses and organizations globally to achieve their climate ambition. EKI offerings span across Carbon Credit/Asset Management, Carbon Credit Generation, Carbon Credit Supply, Carbon Credit Offsetting, Carbon Footprint Management, Sustainability Audits, as well as Carbon Neutrality and Climate Positive initiatives. EKI has consistently featured on The Next 500 – Fortune India List for both 2023 and 2024. Additionally, it has been honored with three prestigious awards at the Environmental Finance Sustainable Company Awards 2023, alongside other notable accolades. The company is today present in 16+ countries and has 3500+ customers across 40+ countries. As on date, EKI has supplied over 200+ million offsets. Visit our website to know more: https://enkingint.org/
For more details, please reach out to Ms. Garima Kumar at +91 98 735 10989 or via email at mediarelations@enkingint.org .
VERRA’s SD VISta is the premier standard for certifying the real-world benefits of social and environmental projects, from gender equity and economic development to affordable clean energy and restoration of wildlife. SD VISta aims to facilitate large-scale investment in sustainable development by providing developers and investors with reliable data on the social and environmental benefits of their projects. Using world-class systems, a project’s benefits are not only logged but also independently verified for their impact, meaning all stakeholders can have full trust in their credibility and value. SD VISta uses expert, third-party auditors to verify that a project advances the global Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations.
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