Improved Cookstoves - Rwanda - Econetix

Improved Cookstoves – Rwanda

Project Type

Energy Efficiency

Improved Domestic Cookstoves

Registry

Verra (VCS)

Project ID: VCS2984

Status

Active / Issuing

First Issuance Q2 2026

Credits / Year

500,000

Estimated average annual tCO₂e

Coverage

Rwanda

High Impact Region

Project Scale

Large Scale

Household distribution & installation

SDG Impact

6 UN SDGs

SDG 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 15

Crediting Period

2022 – 2032

10-Year Program

Key Activities

Large-scale improved cookstove project in Rwanda under Verra (VCS2984), status Active / Issuing, replacing inefficient biomass cooking in households to cut CO2 and indoor smoke.
Built to generate around 500,000 credits (tCO2e) a year, with about 5,000,000 tCO2e avoided over the project lifetime, across a 2022 to 2032 crediting period and a first issuance in Q2 2026.
Econetix acts as Carbon Asset Manager (dMRV platform, verification, credit sales, Article 6 structuring) while the implementation partner handles PDD, Verra registry management, cookstove production and distribution, and last-mile household operations.
Key differentiator is the dMRV system: household-level usage monitoring, maintenance records, and third-party verification aligned with Verra, giving buyers credible, trackable data rather than estimates.
CORSIA-positioned: the project has a Letter of Approval and is on the path to a full CORSIA tag once the Letter of Authorization and insurance are in place, opening access to airline buyers, alongside six certified UN SDG impacts (health, education, gender equality, clean energy, climate action, life on land).

The purpose of this project is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the burning of non-renewable biomass (firewood/charcoal) for cooking, and to contribute to sustainable development in Rwanda. The project will distribute improved cookstoves to domestic households, replacing inefficient biomass cooking with cleaner, more efficient systems.

The lack of access to clean cooking remains very acute in sub-Saharan Africa, with only 17% of the population having access to clean cooking. The vast majority of people in the region rely on gathering biomass for cooking, which dramatically deteriorates health and impairs productivity improvements. Almost 490,000 premature deaths per year are related to household air pollution from the lack of access to clean cooking facilities, with women and children affected the worst.

The project employs a local workforce to distribute and install cookstoves in households. Carbon Finance subsidises the device costs, reduces Sales and After-Sales costs, and helps to provide systems to the households in greatest need.

Empowering Communities Through Clean Energy in Rwanda

The project “Empowering Communities Through Clean Energy in Rwanda” brings modern, efficient cookstoves to off-grid and under-served households. By replacing open-fire and inefficient biomass cooking with clean cookstoves, families gain safer and healthier cooking, women and children are exposed to far less harmful indoor smoke, and households spend less time and money collecting fuelwood. Carbon finance subsidises the device cost and lowers distribution and after-sales costs, helping the stoves reach the families who need them most while reducing pressure on Rwanda’s forests.

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Project Partner & Roles

Carbon Asset Manager

Project Implementation Partner

Project Design & PDD Development
Registry Management (Verra)
Cookstove production & distribution
Last-mile household operations
Usage monitoring & maintenance
Local workforce & community engagement

CORSIA Eligibility

CORSIA Pathway in Rwanda: The project has received a Letter of Approval and is positioned for CORSIA eligibility — enabling its credits to be used for aviation decarbonisation alongside voluntary climate commitments. Once the Letter of Authorization is secured and insurance is in place, credits will receive the CORSIA Tag from the registry, making them available for airline retirement.

Planned SDG Impact

The project contributes to six UN Sustainable Development Goals, with measurable outcomes across health, education, gender equality, clean energy access, climate action, and forest protection.

Good Health and Well-Being

Improved cookstoves reduce indoor smoke and air pollution, lowering respiratory illness and improving household health — especially for women and children.

Quality Education

Less time spent collecting fuelwood and tending fires frees up time for children — particularly girls — to attend school and study.

Gender Equality

Women, who carry the primary burden of cooking and fuelwood collection, gain time, improved health, and economic opportunity through cleaner cooking solutions.

Affordable and Clean Energy

Efficient cookstoves provide cleaner, more affordable cooking energy to households, reducing dependence on traditional biomass.

Climate Action

An estimated 500,000 tCO₂e is avoided each year through reduced combustion of non-renewable biomass — a direct contribution to global climate mitigation.

Life on Land

Lower fuelwood demand reduces pressure on Rwanda’s forests, helping protect biodiversity and ecosystems.

Emission Reduction Plan for the First 5 Years According to the PDD

The table below summarises the expected emission reductions for the first five years of the Cookstoves Rwanda program:

Period	tCO₂e
2022 – 2024	485,000
2024 – 2026	500,000
2026 – 2027	200,000
2027 – 2028	200,000
2028 – 2029	200,000
Total ER until 2029	2,485,000

Integrity Beyond Standards Through Real-Time Monitoring

The project follows a robust MRV approach aligned with Verra requirements, supported by Econetix’s proprietary dMRV platform. This includes household-level usage monitoring, maintenance records, and periodic third-party verification — supporting credible issuance of carbon credits over the crediting period.

Registry & Methodology

Verified Carbon Standard (Verra)

Methodology: VMR0006 — Energy efficiency and fuel-switch measures in thermal applications ( will be transitioned to VM0050 )

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