The Potential of Solar Power in Tanzania
Anza’s new Energy Track is well poised to help social entrepreneurs bring renewable energy to the nearly 37 million Tanzanians who live off the grid
As the population of Tanzania booms, with a predicted growth of 10 million people by the year 2020, the country faces a challenge in how to connect its citizens to power, whilst preserving its rich biodiversity. As it stands, the government simply can’t keep up with the demand for power from a growing population.
Only 24% of Tanzanians are connected to the national grid, comprising over 37 million people without access to electricity.1 Even with access to the grid, the cost is prohibitive. Most people make do with burning wood for cooking and heating and kerosene lamps for lighting. As well as damaging biodiversity, use of wood and kerosene in homes which are often poorly ventilated causes smoke inhalation related illnesses, burns, and potentially death.
Without access to a reliable source of power, economic growth in Tanzania is stymied. Schools can’t teach IT skills, farmers can’t invest in electrical irrigation systems, tradespeople can’t use electrical machinery.
But innovative, social entrepreneurs are designing and bringing products to market that solve these challenges. Anza exists to give these energy entrepreneurs what they need to strengthen their operations, increase profitability and scale their impact, reaching low and middle income families across Tanzania.
The Anza Accelerator Energy Track
With nearly 75% off Tanzanians living off the national power grid, there is such a huge potential for growth in the renewable energy sector. Anza recently won funding to launch a new energy-specific curriculum that will run alongside the main Anza Accelerator. Anza wants to provide sector-specific business development services to energy entrepreneurs so they can grow to the next level, so these entrepreneurs can create impact, provide new job opportunities and solve the local challenge of access to safe, clean, affordable energy. In partnership with African Entrepreneur Collective, who provides technical assistance to support Anza’s model and evaluate its impact, Anza supports the goal to reach 5,000 entrepreneurs to create 50,000 jobs by 2023.
Anza’s initiative focuses on entrepreneurs working in renewable energy. Each energy entrepreneur will work with a dedicated Anza consultant and will receive 8 months of support to grow the operations and sustainability of their businesses.
Anza aims to have 10 energy entrepreneurs in the program by mid-2018. Of these 10, Anza aims to support + 40% women, and 80% local African businesses. Anza also aims to roll out the program to two new micro-sites each year, each with a dedicated consultant. Each site will support a further 10 energy entrepreneurs per year.
Success Stories
Interested in learning more about some of the social entrepreneurs Anza has worked with in renewable energy?
Enda Solar
Enda Solar provides customized back-up and stand alone power solutions and bespoke technical engineering services to Tanzania’s growing economy. Founders John and Erik noticed a significant gap in the technical challenges facing industries in Tanzania and the local skillset and expertise available to address them. As such, Enda Solar seeks to improve the technical engineering capacity of Tanzanians by implementing a rigorous training and capacity development programme for graduates from Tanzanian technical programs. Through the provision of the highest quality technical services and providing a platform to share their expertise, Enda Solar seeks to catalyze industry growth across the Tanzanian economy.
Battery and Solar
Battery and Solar makes renewable energy products accessible throughout the Kilimanjaro region. Specialists in batteries, solar systems and maintenance, Battery & Solar is serving the needs of people who don’t have access to reliable, safe and cost-effective power at home and work. They provide battery charging facilities where you can charge up in only ten minutes, full solar systems for homes and businesses and maintenance of solar products, even those of their competitors. Battery and Solar is partnered with Mobisol and Last Mile to bring their products to rural areas where they are needed most.
Siku Bora
Sikubora Ltd. is committed to transforming the lives of rural Tanzanians through access to quality, affordable solar power. The company designs, sells, installs and services solar home systems (SHS) for the Tanzanian off-grid market. Only 24% of the 50 million people in Tanzania have reliable access to power. The absence of conventional electricity options for almost 38 million Tanzanians has opened up a strong market for renewable energies, most notably solar power. Existing solar providers currently meet less than 5% of demand, and often do so in a very entry-level fashion.
To learn more about the enormous potential for solar power growth in Tanzania, take a look at this inspiring video by Sikubora Ltd.
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