§1What this business is
A box solar cooker is a rectangular box with handles and two hinged lids; the lower half is insulated on all sides and holds four cooking pots painted matt black. The outer case is aluminium or FRP. The KVIC profile plans 1,760 cookers a year with simple sheet-metal tools.
Capacity: 1,760 solar cookers a year at full capacity.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A sheet-metal fabricator who can tie up with renewable-energy agencies or NGOs.
Who it is not for
Someone counting on steady retail demand.
Advantages
- Very low tool cost (₹1 L)
- Simple sheet-metal assembly
- Saves fuel for the buyer
- Fits renewable-energy and clean-cooking programmes
Drawbacks
- Small market — cooking takes longer and needs sunshine
- Thin margin (₹2.37 L surplus on ₹22.20 L sales)
- Cheap LPG access has cut demand
- Sales often depend on government or NGO programmes
Skills you need
- Sheet-metal cutting and bending
- Insulation and glazing
- Demonstrating the product to buyers
- Working with government agencies
Why difficulty 2/5: Easy to make; finding buyers is the hard part.
§3Market
Who buys
- Rural and semi-urban households
- Renewable-energy agencies and NGO programmes
- Schools, hostels and ashrams
How it sells
- State renewable-energy agency programmes
- Hardware and utensil shops
- Exhibitions and fairs
Good to know
- Projected sales at full capacity: ₹22.20 lakh a year (profile).
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tool set: hand-lever shearing machine, hand-operated sheet bending machine, bench drilling machine, bench grinder, hand tools, jigs and fixtures, office equipment, installation and electrification | 1 set | ₹1,00,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Solar Cooker (PMEGP)
- Aluminium or FRP sheet for the case, insulation, cooking pots, black matt paint, lid material₹14,40,000 a year at full capacity (profile)
- Labels and packing material₹50,000 a year (profile)
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Trade licence from the local body
- Product test certificate to the relevant BIS standard if you supply government programmes
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP (KVIC model profile), MUDRA (₹5.50 L is well within ₹20 lakh) and CGTMSE.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: KVIC profile: equipment ₹1,00,000 (hand-lever shearing machine, hand-operated sheet bending machine, bench drilling machine, bench grinder, hand tools, jigs and fixtures, office equipment, installation) + working capital ₹4,50,000 = ₹5,50,000. Work shed rented.
Working capital: Working capital ₹4,50,000 — far more than the tools; raw material ₹14.40 L a year at full capacity.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Export is uncommon for a small unit; check the HS code with your customs agent before shipping.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Weak demand
- Aluminium price rises
- Programme orders stopping
- Unsold stock
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working solar cooker making unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Solar Cooker Making?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.