Biogas Injera Baking Stoves: A Comprehensive Review of Technological Innovations, Performance Challenges, and Research Gaps

Biogas-fueled injera baking stoves offer a promising solution for sustainable cooking in Ethiopia, addressing both energy efficiency and environmental concerns. This review comprehensively explores the technological advancements, performance challenges, and research gaps in the development of biogas-powered injera stoves. Recent innovations in burner design, heat distribution, and material engineering are highlighted, with a focus on improving thermal efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, and enhancing injera quality. Key challenges include the mismatch between biogas pressure and stove design, inconsistent heat distribution across the mitad surface, and low thermal efficiency. Despite significant progress, several gaps remain, including the lack of standardized testing protocols, limited experimental validation of simulation-based designs, and the need for optimized insulation materials. The article also identifies future research directions, including the development of pressure-adaptive burner designs, the exploration of advanced insulation materials, and the adaptation of stove systems for diverse environmental conditions. Addressing these challenges is essential for transitioning from experimental prototypes to scalable, efficient, and culturally acceptable biogas injera stoves that align with national energy goals and improve household food security.