Electric stoves: an option in view of the high cost of gas

The bottle for home use (10 kilos), costs G. 100 thousand per load (in the best of cases) and lasts a month. With the upward trend in oil and its derivatives, a new increase in gas is very likely.

In a family where only the minimum wage is received as income, an alternative could be the use of electromagnetic induction cookers. These plates consume G. 25 thousand of electricity per month. The price of the stove ranges between G. 150,000 to G. 200,000, so its financed purchase, plus the use of the corresponding energy, could cost each family the sum of G. 50,000 on average. That is, half of what is spent on gas.

Mercedes Canese, an energy expert, stated that the Government must carry out a good study on the use of electric stoves. Considering that in our country we have two peaks of maximum consumption; one at siesta and one in the afternoon. This is so that the implementation of electric stoves does not cause a collapse in the distribution lines that already have problems.

“The always problem is to cover the maximum demand. So it is advisable to think of a national brand kitchen that is hybrid. That is to say that it has induction burners, which are the most efficient in electrical terms and that it is also gas. So that during peak hours, the user cooks with gas and at other times uses the electric stove. That would be the middle option,” he explained.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS
The expert explained some technical aspects to consider for the implementation of electric stoves. First of all, electricity is more efficient at generating power and light. While fuel is ideal for generating heat. Therefore, if you go from wood, coal or gas (LPG), it will not be the best for the globe.
Canese pointed out that fuel is used to generate electricity, and in the process 65% of the latter is lost. That is, only 35% of the fuel is converted into electricity. Therefore, it is inefficient and harmful to the environment to convert fuel into electricity to use the latter as a heat source again.

“It is more convenient to use the fuel directly. In addition, the future is mortgaged, since today we have energy surpluses and if everyone uses them when the peak is reached, we will have to look for alternatives. We will have less slack time than we have today to search for alternative sources,” he explained.

EXPERIENCE
The Salto Grande hydroelectric dam is shared by Uruguay and Argentina. Years ago, the Uruguayan state company UTE decided to sell electric stoves to its population, in order to promote environmental care and take advantage of available energy.

However, at one point the maximum power consumption was reached. So the population had to resort again to the use of gas stoves.

IMPLEMENT
EFFICIENT KITCHENS
The analyst recommends the implementation of efficient stoves in rural and urban areas, since there is a high percentage of people who cook with firewood in rural areas and charcoal in urban areas. This with a lot of inefficiency since they have many losses.

“There are studies from Peru that report that women reduce their life expectancy by 10 years by cooking with firewood. The smoke causes respiratory diseases. With the efficient kitchen, the fire is not so accessible. The smoke doesn’t stay in the kitchen either, it comes out through a tube. Also, firewood and charcoal are renewable, not like LPG,” she explained.