Author: Paula

Last Sunday, we came together once again to see our solar cooker in action, reflect on what we’ve learned so far, and brainstorm the next steps in our ongoing research project. It was a great mix of hands-on testing, technical discussions – and shared moments.

Despite the sometimes unpredictable August weather in Luxembourg (we got lucky with the sun ☀️😅), we managed to cook a meal, enjoy the results, and exchange ideas on how to optimize performance, tracking mechanisms, and heat transfer.

🍽️ Key takeaway?

Engineering and sustainability go hand-in-hand – but it’s the human element that makes these projects truly meaningful. Sitting together, sharing a solar-cooked dish, and dreaming up improvements is what drives us forward.

🔬 What’s next?

> Testing alternative absorber Materials
> Improving reflector precision
> Collecting more performance data under varying conditions

Huge thanks to everyone who joined and contributed their insights & energy – especially Michel Guenther for pushing things forward!

#SolarCooking #SustainableEngineering #DIYScience #HandsOnLearning #ScienceCommunity #EngineeringForGood #CircularDesign #EWB #EngineersWithoutBordersLuxembourg

We decided to build a solar cooker as a fun and educational science project. A solar cooker uses nothing but sunlight to prepare food – no fossil fuels, no wood. 🌱♻️ A small step for us, a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable future.

🎯 Goal:
To create a simple, low-cost solar cooker using common materials, test the concept, and gain hands-on experience with solar cooking.

🛠️ Our Approach:
📡 Reused a broken satellite dish as the reflector
🪞 Cut small mirror squares and glued them onto the dish
🛞 Used an old truck brake disc + welded steel frame for a stable base
⚙️ Implemented a zenith angle control mechanism for solar tracking

📊 Key Data:
🔲 Reflective surface: 0.79 m²
🔍 Concentration factor: ~130
🌡️ Test in March (Luxembourg): 170 °C reached
☀️ Test in July: 42 % efficiency achieved

💬 Conclusion:
A rewarding hands-on project that combines engineering, sustainability, and reuse. A great example of how simple ideas can drive real impact.

Big thanks to our member Michel Guenther !!!

#SolarCooking #Sustainability #DIYEngineering #RenewableEnergy #ScienceProject #EngineeringForGood #CircularDesign #EngineersWithoutBordersLuxembourg #EWB #EWB_Luxembourg