1998

Regula Ochsner revisits Madagascar, where spent three years as a young development aid worker and is dismayed by the extent of deforestation. She concludes that action needs to be taken.

 

Autumn 2000

A container with assembly kits for 500 solar cookers id sent to Tuléar.

 

December 2000

Together with Eduard Probst, a pioneer in solar cookers, his wife and two more volunteers Regula Ochsner leaves Switzerland for Tulèar. After a hard ten-day’s battle against Malagasy beaurocracy they can get hold of the first container with the equipment for the solar cooker project. In a provisional workshop Eduard Probst instructs two Malagasy artisans how to assemble the solar cookers. Native Chantal Allain takes over the supervision of the project.

 

March 2001

ADES, Association pour le Développement de L'Énergie Solaire, is founded. ADES buys a building plot of 1500 m2 in Tuléar and starts with the construction of its first workshop. A second container leaves Switzerland with materials for the assembly of solar cookers and with a Pinzgauer, a cross country vehicle of the Swiss army. The Pinzgauer is to become invaluable for the transportation of material and as a mobile workshop. The shipping of this second container has been made possible by a generous donation.

January to June 2002

A change of government leads to political unrest and delays the construction of the workshop.

 

Spring 2003

The team moves into the new building in Tuléar and starts the production of solar cookers in better conditions.

Spring 2004

• Official inauguration of the workshop in Tuléar with a workshop, an office and sales rooms as well as a house for a watchman.
• The Tuléar centre is equipped with its own photovoltaic and wind power stations, which produce most of the electricity needed. A well with a hand-operated pump to supply the workshop with enough water is planned.
• The centre in Tuléar is considered a perfect example of renewable energy in action.
• Representatives of the local government attend the inauguration ceremony.
• A cooperation agreement is signed by the local government and by ADES for the encouragement of renewable energy in the Province of Tuléar.

 

 

Autumn 2004

• The well is equipped with a solar pump to haul water. The pump is also used for demonstration purposes.
• Representatives of the Tuléar government and a women’s group are demonstrated the parabolic solar cooker, which can be used as a supplement to the box solar cooker.

 

 

November 22, 2004

The five Rotary Clubs of the Canton of Zug organise a benefit performance of the Swiss National Circus Knie on behalf of the ADES Solar Cooker Project.

 

2005

The net proceeds of the Knie benefit performance go a long way to building a new centre in Ejeda, 250km south of Tuléar, in April 2005.

 

Summer 2005

See Heinz Vetter’s report (pdf 1.1MB)

 

 

November 4, 2005
A container with tools, machines and solar cooker assembly kits for a second workshop in Ejeda sets out from Switzerland to Tuléar. It has been financed by the donations of the five Rotary Clubs from Zug and the two humanitarian organisations ADES and FSK. The transportation has been sponsored by the Swiss Transportation and Shipping Company  under the motto "haulers have hearts”.

 

December 2005

See Regula Ochsner’s report (pdf 90KB)

Spring 2006

The buildings for the new local centre for solar cookers in Ejeda are completed in spring 2006. As there is no public power supply system electricity is generated by the centre’s own photovoltaics. With a delay of about three months the container from Switzerland can finally be retrieved from customs in Tuléar after lengthy and difficult negotiations on March 30. In May 2006 the production and distribution of solar cookers starts, and the poor regions within a distance of about 150 km of Ejeda can be supplied with solar cookers. ADES receives support from the local authorities and cooperates with 'La Salfa', a social nonprofit organisation, which is active throughout Madagascar. Together ADES and 'La Salfa' promote solar cooking. For a start, four Malgasy employees take up work in Ejeda.

8 July, 2006

Under the motto “Celebrate Madagascar” ADES celebrates its fifth anniversary in Meier’s garden centre in Tann-Rüti. Malagasy stalls, films, appetizers and delicacies, dancing and music by a Malagasy group as well as an elegant dinner for the many diverse visitors make for an unforgettable day in the history of ADES, which is still young.

 

2006
A three person ADES delegation participates in the International Solar Cookers Conference in Granada, Spain, to establish new contacts, make people aware of and arouse their interest in ADES.

2006
By December 1600 solar cookers have been sold, 140 of them in Ejeda, in just five months. This success has only been possible thanks to donations in Switzerland, which enable ADES to sell the solar cookers at a moderate price.

 

March 2007
Regula Ochsner wins first prize of the Yves Rocher Environmental Foundation; and ten days later, she is also awarded the international first prize of the environmental foundation in Paris as one of the finalists of eleven countries. For Regular Ochsner and for ADES the award is a great honour and recognition for the work done.

17 March, 2007
The people and local authorities of Ejeda flock to the colourful and happy festivities for the official inauguration of the second ADES centre. Vice-president Heinz Vetter represents ADES Switzerland. The inauguration starts with the Swiss and Malagasy national anthems, followed by a number of speeches, the handing over of presents, the unveiling of the Rotary panel, and it ends with Malagasy dances and a banquet for all present.

See German report by Heinz Vetter (pdf, 680 KB)

 

17 May, 2007

Otto Frei, former member of the ADES committee, is appointed “national coordinator” in Tuléar to meet the new requirements of the development of the ADES project.

 

 

30 August, 2007

A group of students from the University of Lucerne organise a fund-raising event and show the 140 invited guests how forests can be preserved and poverty diminished by the use of solar cookers. Photos and supporting documents can be seen in the media corner.

 

 

3 October, 2007

ADES is awarded the Swiss Solar Prize for Individuals and Institutions, a great honour and recognition. (cf press release about Solar Prize Award, doc 66 KB)

 

December 2007

2400 solar cookers and 120 low-energy ovens (introduced in spring 2007 to complement the solar cookers) have been sold, and the demand is still growing.

 

April 2008

ADES puts into operation new, powerful production machines in order to increase the production of solar cookers in Madagascar.

 

30 May, 2008

In Morondava, 300km north of Tuléar, the third centre with a workshop in a rented building is inaugurated festively.  Cf Otto Frei’s report Morondava – Ein guter Start (pdf 1.4 MB)

 

24 November, 2008

ADES is rewarded the Doron Prize for the active protection of the tropical forests in Madagascar. The foundation council states that it has been convinced by the selfless dedication and the success of ADES.

 

31 December, 2008

1500 solar cookers were sold in 2008. Since the beginning of the project 4000 solar cookers have been sold altogether.

 

30 April, 2009

The pilot project “Solar Village St. Augustin” can be largely completed. It is the first and largest of its kind in Madagascar.

In St. Augustin, about 35km south of Tuléar, the small huts of 80 families were equipped with photovoltaic installations, which enable the inhabitants to light a lamp and listen to the radio in the evening. Also the local infirmary with its maternity ward and other public buildings now have a minimum of electric power.

 

April to August 2009

Temporary closure of the Tuléar Centre due to staff difficulties.

 

August 2009

• Reopening of the centre, partly with new staff with very good qualifications.
• The Rotary Club of Zürcher Oberland, supported by other Rotary clubs and the International Rotary Foundation, launches the Project “1000 Solar Cookers for Madagascar”.

 

December 2009

ADES produces the first 30 energy saving ovens and starts testing them. (sind das andere Oefen als die low-energy ovens, die oben erwähnt werden? Sonst wäre es ein Widerspruch?!)

 

2010

ADES is awarded the Brandenberger Prize.