The CERES solar cooking project involved the design and construction of an innovative solar thermal energy generator, called a Scheffler dish.

The technology, used in India and Europe,  has the potential to dramatically reduce the emissions of Melbourne’s many restaurants and cafes.

The 2.7m2 dish tracks the sun throughout the day, focusing sunlight at approximately 100 times at a fixed point, and creating temperatures of up to 800°C.

The focused thermal energy can then be used for heating a cook top.

Scheffler dishes can be constructed using common workshop tools, making them an ideal green technology for community groups, small businesses and individuals.

The CERES solar cooking dish was built in the CERES workshop with the help of volunteers, and went on display for the first time at the CERES Harvest Festival in March 2011.

Green Technology Engineers, Neil Faragher and Tim Cannell, working on the Solar Cooking dish.
 

 Cooking demonstration using the Scheffler dish. The food is heated using only the power of the sun.

 Click here to view photo gallery of Scheffler dish construction.