Why SSM Rocket Stoves Outperform Traditional Clay Stoves in Efficiency, Health, and Sustainability

True words from ARC: “If stove projects do not have capable stoves, then project goals will not be met in the same way that some carbon credit projects fail to meet their impact goals when evaluated by fact checkers.”

**Comparison Between Traditional African Clay Stoves and Improved SSM Rocket Stoves**

1. **Thermal Efficiency**  

   - The SSM rocket stove with a pot skirt achieves a thermal efficiency of up to 54%, see model S26-11E, while traditional African clay stoves (like on the photo) only reach about 7.8%–10%. Even improved clay stoves rarely exceed 20% .  

2. **Fuel Consumption and Savings**  

   - SSM stoves use 70% less firewood compared to three-stone fires, saving 3–5 tons of wood per household annually, equivalent to 3–5 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided.  

   - In a water-boiling test, boiling 2 liters of water requires 1.25 kg of wood using an open clay stove, while an SSM stove only needs 0.3–0.5 kg, saving 60–75% of the fuel .

3. **Harmful Emissions**  

   - SSM stoves reduce CO, PM2.5, and smoke emissions by 80% compared to traditional clay stoves, significantly improving indoor air quality .  

4. **Cooking Time and Usability**  

   - Boiling the same amount of water takes 40 minutes on a clay stove, but only 20 minutes on an SSM stove, saving 50% of cooking time .  

5. **Durability and Maintenance**  

   - SSM stoves use stainless steel for its body and the liner lasting over 8-10 years; all metal parts are recyclable. Traditional clay stoves often erode during the rainy season and need to be rebuilt every 1–2 years .  

   - The modular design allows users to replace damaged parts easily, reducing long-term maintenance costs .

6. **Economic and Carbon Benefits**  

   - SSM stoves can qualify for carbon credit programs and also have more economical designs now, specially designed for carbon projects.  

   - Although traditional clay stoves have no upfront cost, they require more labor for firewood collection and contribute to deforestation, leading to higher hidden costs.

**Conclusion**  

SSM improved rocket stoves offer **superior thermal efficiency**, **significant fuel savings**, **lower emissions**, and **longer lifespan**, delivering **economic, health, and environmental benefits** over traditional African clay stoves.