Learning from Tanzania: a successful Experience sharing visits into the renewable energy experiences of Tanzania

The EU-HoA-REC/N Rural Energy Project of Ethiopia (entitled “Integrated Approach to Meet Rural Household Energy Needs of Ethiopia”) recently organized a 10 days Experience sharing field visit in Tanzania for with its partners and associates.

The main goal of this field visit was to take lessons and learn experience from ongoing EUEF Funded similar Projects on Renewable energy systems in Tanzania, mainly in the district of Daresalam, Machami Wari, Sha and Meru.

The visit was organized in collaboration with TaTEDO (Tanzania Traditional Energy Development Organization) who has been working on the promotion and dissemination of renewable energy technologies in Tanzania for the past two decades.

The Ethiopian team was made up of the following: Ato Wossenu Areda Weldekiros from the Ministry of Water and Energy; Ato Tariku Legesse Tura from the Oromia Water, Mines and Energy Bureau; Dr. Gerd-Henning Vogel and Ato Samson Atsbha Berhe from GIZ-ECO; Ato Haimanot Desalegne from the Environmental Development Action (ENDA); Ato Belaineh Assegu Mukulo from the Partnership for Integrated Sustainable Development Association (PISDA); Ato Dekebo DalleTuse from Arsi Nature Conservation and Environmental Development Association (ANCEDA); Dr Mulugeta Berhanu Bedanea from the Relief Society of Tigray (REST); Ato Abreham Beyene Yisgedu from the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA); and finally 3 peoples from HoAREC/N: Ato Mesfin Kinfu Teferi, Ato Fitsumbrhan Tsegaye Beyene and Ato Sisay Lelissa Negeri.

Among the organizations, they contacted and visited were the Tanzanian Traditional Energy Development Organization (TaTEDO), the Rural Energy Agency of Tanzania, the Tanzania Ministry of Energy, the Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (Generator Zero Project), the Sustainable Energy Institute, the Rural Microfinance Cooperatives for renewable energy technologies (SACCOS) and many schools, health centers, cooperatives, women group and private sectors. This field visit was an important milestone for this € 3.25 million project funded by the European Union Energy Facility (EUEF) and implemented by HoA-REC/N in collaboration with its partners and associates.

Among the organizations, they contacted and visited were the Tanzanian Traditional Energy Development Organization (TaTEDO), the Rural Energy Agency of Tanzania, the Tanzania Ministry of Energy, the Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (Generator Zero Project), the Sustainable Energy Institute, the Rural Microfinance Cooperatives for renewable energy technologies (SACCOS) and many schools, health centers, cooperatives, women group and private sectors. This field visit was an important milestone for this € 3.25 million project funded by the European Union Energy Facility (EUEF) and implemented by HoA-REC/N in collaboration with its partners and associates.

The Ethiopian team has learnt valuable lessons from the Tanzania experience that will be used to successfully implement the EU-HoA-REC/N Rural Energy Project. The main findings and lesson learnt from this exposure visit are the following.

Close collaboration with the Government, a key for the success of Renewable Energy

First of all,. The development and dissemination of fuel saving stoves in Tanzania is one of the most visible and strong point observed from the exposure visit.

The potential for expanding the use of fuel-efficient technologies in Ethiopia is also huge. However, like in Tanzania, a strong collaboration between several partners and the government combined with aggressive awareness rising campaign is required to enhance the Ethiopian public knowledge.

Secondly, to reach successfully resource poor households like in Tanzania, it will be important to ensure access to low interest financial loans and services. In this case, MFIs and RUSACOs are potential actors in Ethiopia that can be partners for financing rural energy technologies. It is also important to target and partner with institutions that have higher biomass consumptions such as universities, military camps, hospitals, private restaurants and cafes, private bakers etc.

Thirdly, commercializing fuel saving technologies will be crucial for faster scale up in Ethiopia rural areas. This strategy demands concerted efforts at strengthening the rural energy market by supporting and encouraging the participation of the private sector in the manufacturing and supply of alternative improved stove technologies. This could also be linked with the ongoing development effort by the Ethiopian government in regard to small-scale enterprises. However, such commercializing actions must be coupled by quality assurance mechanisms to sustain standards of fuel saving technologies that enter the market.

Promoting Solar Energy in rural area

The potential for solar power development in Ethiopia is also wide. Potential incentives include rural lighting and more importantly also mobile charging. In regard to the current development in mobile service coverage in rural parts of the country, the demand for solar mobile charger could be immense. Another potential for solar power can be the linkage of solar panel to refrigerators that could provide a good alternative solution for cooling in hotter area and regions of Ethiopia.

In promoting solar technologies, the Ethiopian team learned from the Tanzanian experience 2 majors lessons.

First, important attentions should be paid toward the identification of efficient, low cost and durable solar panel technology. In this regard, encouraging the participation of the private sector (such as in opening up solar shops) can help achieve this goal.

Secondly, building local skills and know-how on solar panel maintenance is also important. To be successful, this action should be linked to rural women empowerment agenda.

Harvesting the immense potential of Jatropha

Finally, the Tanzanian experience on alternative energy involving Jatropha bio-fuels was found interesting and satisfactory because Ethiopia has a huge potential also with Jatropha. The Ethiopian team learned that the introduction of technologies related to Jatropha processing and energy generation must be closely followed for quality assurance and the development must be approached gradually to avoid unnecessary delays and sacrifices.

Improving the lives and livelihood of Ethiopian people

In conclusion, the Ethiopian team summarized their most important lesson learned in the Tanzania visit as follows: a strong collaboration between the Government (federal Ministry of Water and Energy, the regional Water and Energy bureaus…etc.), the private sector, non-governmental organizations, bilateral and international partner organizations and other stakeholders, combined with the research institutions to ensure continued innovation for more efficient renewable energy technologies is critical.

Only this combination of efforts can supports the development and the spreading out of alternative energy technology promotion initiatives in Ethiopia and improve the lives and livelihoods of the Ethiopian people.