SOCONEXGEN: Construction stage

The focus of project SoCoNexGen is on the design, construction, experimental testing and analysis of four types of indoor solar cookers. In the transnational project SoCoNexGen, the test sites for the solar cookers are in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Portugal. A simplified working principle of the four types of solar cookers is given in Figure 1 below:

Figure 1: Solar cookers in the focus of project SoCoNexGen

By the end of April 2023 the construction of solar cookers 1a, 1b and 2, which are built in Germany, had started. The current plan is to have the solar cookers ready by June 2023 for functional tests before initiating the shipment to the project partners’ test sites. Figure 2 shows three photographs of the different stages during the construction progress of the solar cookers 1a, 1b and 2.

Figure 2: Construction of solar cookers by partner low-tec gGmbH in Germany

For solar cooker 3, which is built in Morocco, the stage of testing is furthest from all solar cookers. Test users in the province of Berkane, Morocco, have already tested a prototype and feedback was used to further optimise the cooker’s design. It is planned to test several units of the optimised solar cooker 3 in the forest areas of Berkane. Figure 3 shows the photovoltaic panels (1.8 kWp), solar batteries (48V/250Ah, 24V/180Ah), charge-discharge regulators (24V/48V), weather station, electrical control units (experimental, without enclosure), heating plates in experiments and computer (acquisitions, local and remote control).

Z:\_Projekte\SoCoNexGen_js\Projektmanagement\CommunicationLEAP-RE\NewsletterTextJune2023\Fotos UMP\Fotos 1,2 UMP aus Präsentation März 23_v4.emf — Figure 3: Photographs of photovoltaic panels, electrical control units and heating plates among other components

In the different stages of the project, face-to-face and online meetings take place to discuss the progress of individual work packages. Apart from the progress being made regarding the construction of the solar cookers, important steps are taken by the North African partners UMP, UTM and CDER who are working on a potential study on the application of the developed solar cookers in their respective countries. These activities, which also involve future users of the technology, shall raise the acceptance of the solar cooking technology.

Participation in recent events:

The partner Université de Tunis El Manar – labo ATSSEE – FST (UTM) presented the project and other activities of ATSSEE lab in a TV show on 8th March 2023 in Tunis.

SOCONEXGEN: Construction stage