ARC E-Newsletter 1/16/26: Tier 3 Biomass Stoves plus The Annual ETHOS Conference
Aprovecho Research Center
Tier 3 Biomass Stoves plus The Annual ETHOS Conference
Biomass cookstoves are mass produced at Shengzhou Stove Manufacturer
To reach multiple, interlinked Sustainable Development Goals, the UN advises that “the share of the population mainly using improved cooking solutions like low-emission biomass stoves reaching Tier 3* or better needs to increase to 35 percent by 2030.” (ACHIEVING UNIVERSAL ACCESS AND NET-ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050: A Global Roadmap for Just and Inclusive Clean Cooking Transition, United Nations, 2023)
Well, that would be a very welcome change. The stove community has been trying to bring improved stoves into use for decades. Luckily, we are starting to know a lot more about how to improve stoves and increase market share: To make Tier 3 stoves successfully compete with traditional stoves. Much better stoves must be as loved by cooks while they make profit for factories, distributors, retailers, and, if lucky, for carbon developer and markets.
It may be that the most important missing link has been that, without carbon revenue, Tier 3 stoves have been too expensive. However, since the prices of avoided tons of CO2 have been fluctuating, a lot of folks have been exploring ways to sell Tier 3 biomass stoves without this subsidy.
Over the years, stakeholders (including the DOE, Shell Foundation, the European Union) have commented that substantial price reductions are possible by using less expensive materials, with design changes, more efficient production at scale, tariff reductions, decreases in the cost of transportation, and distribution with higher volume sales. As 2026 begins, the combination of factors seems to be bringing market driven Tier 3 (or even Tier 4) stoves closer to reality.
Getting better products in use is occurring on a massive scale globally.
Let’s include good stoves.
*Biomass cookstove Tiers of Performance range from Tier 0 (worst) to Tier 5 (best). They are determined by using a standard test sequence (ISO 19867) that establishes international comparability in measurement of cookstove emissions and efficiency. Tiered Metrics include thermal efficiency, and levels of CO, CO2 and PM2.5.
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The annual ETHOS Conference is set for Feb. 5-7, 2026. Join us at OSU Portland Center in Portland, Oregon for ETHOS 2026, the clean cooking conference. Leaders and advocates from the household energy sector come together to share research, explore solutions, and build lasting partnerships.
Discover the latest in technology, business innovation, and carbon markets. Sessions include:
- Electric induction stove adoption
- New stove designs
- fNRB and carbon methodology updates
- Carbon and finance innovations
Hear from experts at Gold Standard, Verra, KOKO Networks, East Africa Power, CCS, Biomassters, Berkeley Air, and more.
This in-person gathering fosters meaningful networking and ends with the beloved lighting of the stoves—a celebration of stove designs from around the world. Virtual attendees can join live presentations, share their work virtually, and engage in interactive discussions.
Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and lead in the clean cookstoves space. Visit ethosconference.org/ethos2026 for details and to register to attend in person or online.
Hope to see you there!
Find the book "Improving Biomass Stoves 2025," resources, publications and information about our work at www.aprovecho.org
Find archived newsletters online at aprovecho.org/newsletters
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