Analytical Hierarchy Process Applied to Clean Burning Cookstove Design Concept Selection

This study used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method to evaluate six clean-burning cookstove designs - the Natural Draft Sunken Pot Rocket Stove, the Kirk Harris TLUD Stove, the Side Feed Bottom Air Forced Draft Stove, the Top Lit Forced Draft Stove, the Charcoal Stove and the SSM Jet-Flame Stove -for mass production in Cameroon, addressing the dual priorities of thermal efficiency and emissions reduction under the ISO/IWA Tiers of Performance framework. Building on a prior quantitative survey of cookstove performance, eight criteria— thermal efficiency, specific consumption, high and low power emissions (CO, PM<sub>2.5</sub>), indoor emissions (CO, PM<sub>2.5</sub>). —were used to assess the designs. Pairwise comparisons showed the charcoal stove as optimal for combustion efficiency (24% priority score) and the Kirk Harris TLUD stove as superior for minimizing emissions (37% score), demonstrating that design suitability depends on context-specific energy and environmental goals. The AHP methodology was validated through sensitivity analysis and a consistency ratio below 10%, confirming its robustness for structured decision-making. By systematically balancing technical performance, user needs, and environmental impact, this study underscores AHP’s utility in guiding the selection of clean energy technologies. The findings provide policy makers and manufacturers with actionable insights to prioritise designs that meet regional priorities, whether fuel efficiency in resource-constrained environments or emissions reduction in health-sensitive areas. This approach supports scalable, evidence-based transitions to sustainable cooking solutions in Cameroon and similar contexts.