COOKING IN THE SUN

TEENAGE Bahraini science whizkid Anas Salman Sahwan served the kingdom a solar cooked meal when he constructed an oven inspired by the sweltering heat of the summer.

In a bid to promote environmental awareness, the student joined the GPIC Environmental Research Programme where 82 students demonstrated innovation and a high degree of technical prowess.

Anas came out tops with his solar oven invention, which took him two months to research, design and build.

He believes his creation will be a breakthrough in making Bahrain a greener place. The oven aims to reduce the cost of using fuel as well as minimise air pollution and decrease the occurrence of desertification in some of the world’s most environmentally-challenged areas caused by over-logging wood in the rain forest.

At the time Anas was representing Ahmed Al Omran Secondary School for Boys but has since graduated and left his sunnier days behind to further his education in the gloomy Scottish weather. Now studying Economics, Management & Finance at the University of St Andrews UK, Anas explained it was his hard work, dedication and uniqueness of the design that won him first place in the contest.

Anas, 18, from Manama, said: "I have always been interested in helping to preserve the environment somehow. I decided making a solar oven in Bahrain was the most suitable decision as we have a large amount of heat energy."

Anas continued: "The solar oven is one of many benefits in which the Middle East, particularly Bahrain, can help to solve environmental problems by utilising the energy it receives from the sun. Unfortunately, we don’t take enough advantage of it.

"By researching the ways and techniques that people in different eras have used the sun as a source of heat as well as a weapon to defeat enemies in battles my idea started to come together.

"I am extremely happy that I won, especially because it was my first time participating in an environmental-based competition."

He praised his former environmental science teacher Mohammed Mustafa Kamal for encouraging him throughout the competition.

The solar-powered oven’s technology uses energy from the sun for heating food and beverages, whether for cooking or sterilisation. It is very cheap to make and consists of a black aluminium box inside a wooden container with fibre glass in between and stainless steel reflectors on the exterior of the oven.

It is designed to use reflective panels and an aluminium box to reflect and absorb heat and does not result in the release of any gas that could harm the environment.

Fibre and tempered glass covers the top of the oven to trap the heat and conserve the temperature. A wooden box works as a container for the aluminium body to prevent users from burning themselves.

The oven also contains a handle for carrying, height adjuster, a thermometer and a metal plate that fixes the balance of the food inside the oven.

Teacher Mr Kamal, from Muharraq, said: "Anas is a very gifted student and has always shown promise when it comes to environmental science.

"He had worked extremely hard and had visited different workshops for help to make this the best solar oven possible. He dedicated a lot of time into the project and it showed with the end result. He will go very far in life."

After scouting for help from local companies around Bahrain, Anas received assistance from Al-Noaim Carpentry Workshop. He presented his idea to the management and they offered to source the best possible wood for the exterior of the oven.

Sinai’i Workshop also assisted Anas and provided the aluminium for the manufacture of its interior. They also helped him with the metal plate that can be found at the base of the oven where the food, or pot, containing liquid can be balanced.

Anas said: "The oven cost me just over BD70 to make and these two companies helped me a lot. Some of the parts had to be imported from Saudi Arabia, for example, a thermometer that went high up in degrees was very difficult to find, but it worked it out in the end.

"I learned a lot from the workers and they also tweaked my design to make it even better. I’ve always been interested in environmental sciences and have proved to be good in physics, chemistry and biology. Although I’m not furthering my education in this field I still consider science a major hobby.

"I hope to one day make another winning invention and I am thinking about copyrighting my design to sell the oven."

On a sunny day it takes just 15 minutes to reach 75 degrees Celsius and two hours to reach 170 degrees. It still works on cloudy days although it takes longer to reach the desired temperature. From different studies Anas found that it drops to 60 degrees in 15 minutes and 120 degrees at two hours.

"The solar oven doesn’t work at night and if things need to be heated at a higher temperature it shouldn’t be used," Anas said. "But it is semi-portable and can be used anywhere where there is sunlight."

Anas’ mum, Sameera, is extremely proud of her son. Despite taking care of five other children, she has been by his side every step of the way as his winning idea developed.

The oven weighs 10kg and measures 14x14 inches. It can easily be stored with a height of just eight inches and reaches a maximum heat of 250 degrees.

Approximately half of the world’s population cooks over combustible materials, including wood, coal and animal dung and when heated, these materials release pollutants into the air. Anas’ solar ovens could offer a cheap and eco-friendly alternative.