UpEnergy Issues Africa's First Electric Cooking Carbon Credits

UpEnergy issued Africa's first electric cooking carbon credits, certified under Gold Standard's metered methodology for real-time tracking of energy use and emissions reductions. The milestone advances metered clean-cooking carbon markets relevant to India's large clean-cookstove and carbon-credit ambitions.

UpEnergy issued Africa's first-ever electric cooking carbon credits, certified under Gold Standard's latest metered methodology, which ensures precise, real-time tracking of energy use and emissions reductions. Through its Beyond Biomass program, UpEnergy is rolling out 250,000 energy-efficient electric pressure cookers across Africa by 2028. Already active in Tanzania and Uganda, the initiative is expanding to Ghana and Zambia. The stoves are equipped with real-time sensors that improve cooking efficiency while providing data on energy consumption and emissions savings.

The program affects households across Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana and Zambia shifting from biomass to electric cooking. Families reduced cooking time by an average of 37 minutes per day, equivalent to over nine days a year. Households in Tanzania save around $0.26 daily, while those in Uganda save up to $0.51 by cutting charcoal use. The initiative has created over 180 local jobs, strengthening community impact. The metered methodology benefits carbon-credit buyers seeking high-integrity, data-verified clean-cooking credits.

Carbon market participants and clean-cooking developers should monitor the metered methodology's adoption as a model for precise, data-driven credit issuance. UpEnergy is investing in indoor air quality monitoring, tracking PM2.5 and carbon monoxide levels to quantify health benefits of electric cooking. Stakeholders should watch the program's expansion toward its 250,000-cooker target by 2028 across Ghana and Zambia, alongside advances in fuel-efficient cookstove technology that could further scale the transition to cleaner cooking solutions.

Key figure — Deployment target: 250,000 electric pressure cookers by 2028