Browsing: wind power

• Solar energy, alongside wind power, has become the cheapest way to meet the growing demand for electricity, according to the World Bank.
• World Bank’s Demetrios Papathanasiou says many developing countries have some of the world’s best solar and wind resources.
• He expresses his optimism about the ability of global countries to tap into advances in solar energy and make dramatic gains.

Solar energy is expected to surpass coal as the world’s most available energy source by 2027. The African countries with the most immense global potential are critical drivers of this projection.

The World Bank, in its latest energy report update, says that of the nearly 675 million people who still live without electricity worldwide, more than 80 per cent, or 567 million people, live in sub-Saharan Africa.

It says that 2030 solar mini-grids could bring high-quality, uninterrupted power to 380 million people.

“This is if governments and …

• Only 38 percent of Tanzania is connected to electricity. 
• Kenya ranks third in Africa in wind energy generation.
• Global net zero goals still off track with growing fossil fuel investments.

Tanzania does not produce enough electricity to meet its growing domestic demand. And this is despite having diverse renewable energy resources including hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind.

The country’s power sector is monopolized by state-owned Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Limited (TANESCO). The utility owns and controls almost all of the country’s energy transmission network and over half of its generating capacity.

Currently, Tanzania’s total power installed capacity is 1,602MW split into Hydroelectric (568MW), thermal (951.6MW) and 82.4MW from other renewables.

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Solar and biofuels

According to TANESCO, Tanzania’s electricity generation comes mostly from natural gas at 48 percent. Hydro sources account for 31 percent of the energy mix.  Petrol contributes 18 …