From Solar Cookers Towards Viable Solar Cooking Technology

A broader concept of technology encompassing the technical and the societal aspects is introduced. Viability of technology and technological development process from a socio-technical view- point is discussed. Based on the above, the question of securing viability of solar cooking technology is taken up.

It is discussed that actor- approach can operationally relate the abstract societal factors with those of technical aspects. Some concrete measures regarding application of solar cooker projects are drawn from the discussion: solar cooking projects should a) be based on user and producer studies to understand their priorities and opportunities related with the process of technological development; b) be multi-disciplinary, flexible and long-term; facilitate co-working of users, producers, political actors and other actors in the process.