Expert perspective on technological choice for cooking energy transition in Nepal

Solid biomass dominates as the primary source of cooking energy, especially in rural households of Nepal. The use of solid biomass has a detrimental effect on health, exacerbates the burden of biomass collection, and hampers access to clean energy. Understanding the factors influencing the choice of modern cooking fuels is crucial to improving energy security and resilience and easing the transition to clean fuels. This study evaluates technological choices for the transition in cooking energy from the perspective of experts working in the government, non-government, and academia sectors. A structured questionnaire survey was prepared with five criteria and nine cooking technology options. Fifty-one experts responded to the survey, and their responses were analyzed using the analytical hierarchy process. The study reveals that efficiency and capital cost are the primary criteria for selecting cooking technology. The most suitable clean cooking technology is an induction stove followed by a hot plate, while the least preferred technology is a Bayupankhi stove followed by two-pothole mud improved cooking stoves. To ensure the robustness of the method, sensitivity analysis was performed on the two primary criteria efficiency and capital cost of the cooking technology. The analysis revealed robust and consistent rankings of technologies. This study should help create a conducive environment for relevant stakeholders and policymakers to formulate and implement relevant policies and strategies to accelerate the cooking energy transition in Nepal.