Tanzania with large potential for grid-connected renewable energy power
Lake Ngozi, Tanzania (source: flickr/ Sara&Joachim, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
18 Nov 2015
Tanzania identified as one of seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa with huge potential for development of grid-connected renewable energy power, naming particular the geothermal potential of the country.
In a recent report by Frost & Sullivan on “Large-Scale Renewable Energy Power Development Opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa”, Tanzania was named as one of seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with huge potential for development of grid-connected renewable energy (RE) power.
“RE suppliers are more specifically looking to explore opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa due to the surplus of RE stocks and services globally, the acute power supply deficit in almost every country of sub-Saharan Africa, and abundant RE resources on the continent,” the report says.
According to the General Manager and CEO of Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC), Boniface Njombe, the country has an estimated geothermal potential of over 4,000 MWe. [Comment: while likely too optimistic, the country still has some big potential]
He says RE was increasingly becoming popular since it was stable and has potential to cushion power supply against poor hydrology due to adverse impacts of climate change. TGDC is a subsidiary of Tanesco established in December 2013 with the mandate of facilitating realisation of geothermal energy development.
In the bid to enhance the country’s RE knowledge and open the sub-sector to investors, Tanzania has embarked on mapping the available potential under the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP).
Tanzania’s energy mapping is part of a global, US$22.5 million initiative by ESMAP to help 12 countries analyse their renewable energy resources to guide policymakers and investors. The US$2.8 million programme in Tanzania is one of the largest under the initiative.
Source: IPP Media
