InStove
| Company type | Nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy, Environmental technology |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Fred Colgan |
| Headquarters | Cottage Grove, Oregon , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (including sub-Saharan Africa, United States) |
| Products | Institutional cookstoves (60 Liter Stove, 100 Liter Stove) |
InStove (Institutional Stove Solutions) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2012.
History
In 2008, engineer Damon Ogle and carpenter Fred Colgan collaborated with the Aprovecho Research Center to create a highly efficient solid-fuel cookstove designed for institutional applications. Their initial model, which became the foundation for InStove’s 60-liter capacity stove, was a rocket stove utilizing internal combustion technology. This design demonstrated an efficiency improvement of 87% compared to conventional three stone fires.
Institutional Stove Solutions (InStove) was founded as a nonprofit by Colgan in July 2012. Following its inception, InStove introduced the 60 Liter Stove and, in 2013, expanded its product line with the 100 Liter Stove. These innovations aim to address environmental challenges such as climate change, air pollution, and deforestation. The organization collaborates with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. By mid-2015, InStove’s institutional cookstoves had achieved the highest recorded performance ratings globally under the International Standards Organization’s International Workshop Agreement for clean cookstoves.
60 and 100 liter stoves
The stoves employ a "rocket stove" configuration that focuses heat and optimizes combustion gas mixing to reach temperatures exceeding 1100°C. This intense heat allows the stoves to effectively combust smoke emissions, producing cleaner and more efficient flames. The design features a recessed pot surrounded by a heat-conserving skirt, which accelerates cooking times by 20 to 50%.
Each stove installation contributes to reducing carbon emissions equivalent to the annual footprint of approximately 2.7 American households and conserves up to 88 tons of firewood per year.
The 60 Liter InStove model consumes around 2 kilograms of fuel every two hours when operating at peak temperature and can bring 30 liters of water to a boil within half an hour. The larger 100 Liter version achieves boiling for 50 liters in the same timeframe.
Stove placements
By June 2014, InStove had deployed over 1,000 stoves across 27 nations, including Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya (in cooperation with the United Nations), Nigeria, Senegal, and ten additional countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, a 60-liter stove was installed at Opportunity Village—a transitional housing facility in Eugene, Oregon—to support meal preparation for residents while lowering propane expenses.
In 2014, InStove established "InStove Manufacturing Limited," a benefit corporation focused on serving clients within the United States. Among its domestic users is El Sancho, a Mexican restaurant located in Bend, Oregon, which utilizes a 100-liter stove for sustainable large-scale cooking.
Allied technologies
InStove pairs its 60-liter stove with a medical-grade autoclave manufactured by Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry (WAFCO). This combined system functions either as a backup sterilization solution for urban healthcare centers or as the main sanitation method for rural clinics without electricity access. It sterilizes medical tools effectively while helping reduce disease transmission risks.