Here we are at last! First feedbacks from African and European entrepreneurs. First case studies. And a second stage of development in sight!
Beyond the humanitarian work we’re passionate about, several artisans (craftsmen) have taken up the challenge and set up shop to run their business with a Lytefire. We call them Solar Nurturing Artisans and I owe this wonderful term to Richard Loyen, a solar cooking enthusiast and general delegate of Enerplan (France).
As you know, the Lytefire has been designed for sun-rich countries, and especially for communities that have great difficulty accessing clean energy, that are threatened by rampant deforestation, forced to rely on unstable power grids or very high energy bills.
All the people using a Lytefire can learn how to use solar energy to produce something they can sell. Whether in the countryside, on the outskirts of towns or in refugee camps, the Lytefire’s appeal lies in the fact that it is a simple, solid and powerful production tool. And it’s much more than a solar oven as we can see.
With a Lytefire and the sun, we can make bread, cookies, pastries, cakes, pizzas, roast seeds and peanuts without a burnt taste, we can create grain-based alternatives to coffee, make snacks, gomasio, morning cereals, dry fruit or fish, and cook big quantities for schools canteens, just for example. We can make them in real quantities and sell them, which, in the context of countries suffering from climate change, means we can create jobs without destroying the environment. At least, that’s our gamble and our model.
For the moment, our production costs do not allow these vulnerable and very low-income users to buy their equipment, so we are working with NGOs to go beyond solar cooking and create economic activities for low-income populations together. We’re pleased to see that perceptions have been starting to change for some time now, and micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs are increasingly identified as actors of change and resilience, and finally, that it’s crucial with solar thermal to go beyond family cooking and domestic use.
At the same time, we’ve been working on other uses for our tech: from steam production to cold production, from tests for wood charred cladding to iron casting. It’s all very promising, but for the moment, we’re working with these populations and, more recently, with solar artisans.
So, What’s New?
Since 2016, we’ve been implementing solar ovens in many countries, particularly in East Africa. The work had begun long before, but that’s really where it took off, with World Vision Finland. For years, project managers went out into the field, building in small workshops, then creating the training to start up solar bakery operations. Then an artisan took over our manufacturing before demand grew and we started working with a factory in Nairobi to create the Lytefire PRO with its built-in charcoal burner for bad weather days. In addition to this, we were willing to localise our production as much as possible and today two manufacturers produce and market the Lytefire in East Africa through licenses.
Of all the groups supported by NGOs, not all have an enterprising mindset, and not all have been able to provide the invaluable data we need to assess our impact. Far from it. Over time, we have nevertheless been able to collect some performance data. Recently, two case studies in Kenya and Uganda have proved the validity of the model: two micro-enterprises have been set up around the solar energy source of Lytefire ovens and have started to make a profit this year. They are Solar Fire Bakery in Kenya and Smart Up Solar Bakery in Uganda.
Because of their unique advantage of running on free solar thermal energy, even when their production increases, the cost of energy remains minor for all sunny days (i.e. on around 250 days a year).
At the same time, we decided to sell some of our construction plans to speed up the spread of Lytefire for DIYers. Then, following in the footsteps of NeoLoco, the small solar bakery in Normandy built around several Lytefires, we saw some courageous French artisans take the plunge, becoming Solar Nourishing Artisans themselves. Yes, it’s courageous, and the French energy context isn’t the same as in East Africa.
So far, none have replicated NeoLoco’s model, which combines baking and roasting. A small production run of industrially-produced Lytefire Deluxe was set up before two artisans eager to offer quality Lytefire at low-tech budgets decided to start manufacturing in France with a license. So yes, for the moment in France we’re in the low-tech business. And low-tech doesn’t mean low-cost and low quality!
Since 2021 in France, six professional artisans bakers have decided to adopt Lytefire: Barasol (Bretagne), Au gré du soleil (Alpes), Au soleil levain (Provence), Brin de levain (Drôme), Bruzhun (Bretagne), Ferme Galaxie (Ouest). For roasting alone, there are four: Aurinko (Pyrénées), Atelier Bélénos (Ille-et-Villaine), Idée d’en faire + Lug (Ouest), Du soleil et des graines (Loire). Two gave up and were able to resell their equipment. Two others are experimenting with different models, integrating the Lytefire into a brewery (Hélie, East France) and food canning (Fourmi, West France).
All of them work with Lytefire Artisan, Deluxe or DIY equipment. All of them have very different experiences and feedback, which invite us to think deeply about adapting the Lytefire to the French context, especially for bread production. We’re not going to reveal everything today, but it’s actually more than just a thought!
Solar energy will always be part of a mix (wood-fired or complementary electric oven, for example). So for viennoiseries, brioches, cookies, pizzas, gomasio, and all sorts of preparations in small quantities, no problem. For a certain type of breads like NeoLoco makes, and small weekly production runs with a stable climate, you’ll love the Lytefire! However, as soon as you want to increase output, the constraint of no automated solar tracking can be a problem. What’s more, if the weather and location haven’t been properly assessed at the outset, rapidly changing skies can ruin your batches, and you’ll need to retain heat with stones at the bottom of the oven.
And this is where we clearly see that decentralized energy means we have to take full responsibility for our own production. When energy is no longer continuously available, organization and performance change. This has an impact on our social model (and that’s why we’re doing all this).
So for France, these craftsmen really are the vanguard of pioneers. Clearly, we’re only at the very beginning of the spread of concentrated solar power, and while we’re delighted with the initial results, we’re well aware that there’s still a long way to go. But how beautiful is that!
So if you’re tempted by the adventure and you too want to become a Solar Nourishing Artisan, don’t hesitate to contact us to prepare your project, use the savings calculator and also contact the craftsmen directly to talk to them. You should be able to do this easily via the users page and their linked sites.
This transition to a "new world" must, obviously, be attractive and profitable.
