It may seem a mundane piece of kitchen machinery, but the microwave oven has potential to contribute to sustainable development. Researchers in the Netherlands have posited that rapidly reducing prices could lead to a meaningful role for microwave technology in a transition to cleaner energy and applied learning curve theory to assess likely price reduction/technology diffusion trends.

More than 1 billion microwave ovens have been produced since their commercial introduction in 1947. The aggregate energy consumption of all microwave ovens in use is low as a result of their limited usage time. A learning rate of 20% is indicated and as at least two doublings in cumulative capacity of microwaves are projected for the near term, a price reduction of close to 40% can be realized.

The global installed capacity of microwave ovens is roughly half that of coal-fired power plants. Given their high efficiency and the fact that these appliances can run on renewable electricity, potential contributions to carbon dioxide emission reductions are suggested. Their increased deployment will bring a cleaner form of cooking to developing areas and contribute to sustainable growth. Industrial use of microwave technology is also a relevant option for reducing CO₂ emissions through provision of an alternative for fossil fuel-driven drying and heating processes.

The study conducted by researchers from TNO Energy Transition and the University of Amsterdam is published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.