As part of the World Bank’s energy sector management assistance program (ESMAP) and part of Tanzania’s goal to bridge the energy gap in the country, the government is mapping its potential to generate energy from renewable sources to reveal what areas of the country are most suitable to particular renewable resource developments.
The $3.4 million project, which began in 2013, is expected to be completed by 2018.
"The objective is to map resources at the country level rather than carry out site-specific resource assessment," said Nicholas Keyes, communications officer for ESMAP, which is funding and running the project.
According to Keyes, Tanzania is particularly suited to solar projects with 83% of Tanzania’s land area having annual average radiation of above 4.5 units (kilowatt hours), and 14% above 5.5 units.
"This means the solar resource for power generation using solar photovoltaic technologies is viable in most, if not all, the country," he said. But making solar power generation financially feasible also depends on factors such as the costs of equipment and financing, he added.