The following stove demonstration is by Mike Pepler, Technical Manager at the Ashden Awards.

One of the key issues in developing countries is changing the wood stoves people use for cooking so that they are more efficient and emit fewer harmful pollutants. Gasifying stoves are one area where research is still ongoing, and this demonstration is of a stove that uses a fan powered by two AA batteries. Being battery powered, this is not intended for use in developing countries, but is aimed at the outdoors and camping market in developed countries. However, some of the profits from its sale go to fund research on developing a similar stove for developing countries, but with a thermoelectric generator to power the fan.

Here's the details on how it works.
It's a WoodGas CampStove. What it does is "gasify" the wood, burning the gas produced in an efficient manner right under the cooking pot. Basically there's a cylinder inside it that you fill with small sticks:

In February 2012, Ashden and 2011 Ashden Gold Award winner Radian hosted a seminar ‘Financing and delivering the retrofit revolution’ in Westminster, London. Over 140 delegates, from Government, local authorities, housing associations, not-for-profits and community organisations attended to find out how we will achieve retrofits at scale in the UK.  Reducing energy demand in UK housing stock is central to achieving the UK’s legally binding carbon reduction targets. By 2050, the UK is committed to reducing its emissions by 80% from 1990 levels. With the housing sector contributing to 40% of our carbon emissions, 25 million leaky homes need to be improved. That is two per cent of our homes each year, some 400,000 houses. In addition, rising fuel costs and falling incomes mean fuel poverty is growing in the UK making this a critical issue to tackle.

 

Small is...economic?
Can the current crisis in the world economy be steered towards a new “economics as if people mattered” and what would this mean? Does an emphasis on local production and resilience mean that Small is Beautiful opposes international trade and growth?

Small is...appropriate?
Can small, simple and non-violent technologies really deliver the products and services people need including food, energy and water? When is small better than big in empowering people, promoting human rights and preserving cultural and spiritual values?

Small is...political?
How can a few people and simple technologies influence political change towards a more just world? Could the international community’s current awareness of climate change create a renewed impetus for the philosophy of Small is Beautiful and what can be done?

Small is...personal?
How is personal philosophy linked to the practice of development and is tenderness at the heart of facilitation? How can you have fun though care about poverty and the state of the planet?

All these issues will be explored at the Engineers Without Borders UK "Small is... Festival!" on 5th and 6th September 2009. There will be camping facilities, locally source food, demonstrations, debates, practical exercises, stalls bands and films! To find out more and register, visit the festival page on the EWB-UK site.