It use to be that liquid fuel and gels were the only option when it came to portable back-country stoves, but recently a few companies have been developing innovative new products that burn nothing more then sticks and twigs. The main advantage to using found solid fuels is that it eliminates the need to buy, store, and carry liquid fuel canisters, which invariably run out.  For many, creating a well-ventilated solid fuel stove would have been enough, but the company BioLite decided to take the concept to an entirely new level.

Their all-new BioLite Camp Stove incorporates a small generator module that converts heat from the fire into usable electricity. With an output of 2 Watts, the stove can be used to charge most outdoor devices like GPS, cellphones, and flashlights.  The electrical charge is also used to power a small fan that draws air into the chamber, increasing the burn rate.

This new technology is also being used for a larger version called the BioLite HomeStove, which is aimed at the 3 billion people that still cook over an open flame fire. Most of these people live in rural communities and cook indoors without a chimney, exposing them to high levels of pollutants and toxic gases. The HomeStove reduces smoke emissions by 90%, reduces wood consumptions by half, and provides electrical power to households that are more often than not, completely off the grid. BioLite isn’t a charity, or a One-For-One program. Instead they are taking a market based approach towards elevating poverty and promoting personal energy independence. By making a product that is both affordable and desirably to the end-user, BioLite plans to work with retailers to improve local economies.

To find out more and get on the reserve list for the portal CampStove being released this summer, head over to Biolite.com