The state of renewable energy harnessing in Tanzania

Abstract

This paper details the state of renewable energy development in Tanzania and biomass energy supply and consumption. It also highlights the various levels of renewable energy programmes in the country and the Government strategy to improve renewable energy production and utilization technologies. A number of problems hindering the development of renewable energy technologies have been identified and discussed. Biomass accounts for 92% of final energy consumption in Tanzania and will continue to dominate the national energy balance. For example, fuelwood and agricultural residues used to meet domestic energy needs account for 80% of the domestic energy requirements, while commercial energy such as kerosene, electricity and liquefied petroleum gas account for 1%. Total biomass resources for 1990 was 27 million tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) from the natural forests. Other major industrial biomass energy sources include sawmill industry, sugarcane plantations, sugar industry by-products, cashew nut industry, coffee industry and sisal industry. The major biomass consumers include woodfuel for domestic use, tobacco production, brick making, tea drying and fish smoking. While there are efforts to develop other renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind and minihydros, there are also problems hindering their development. They include the lack of adequate data on the actual energy potential of these sources as well as the lack of local capability to design and manufacture energy related equipment and spare parts.