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Renewable energy in Tanzania: Advancements in solar PV applications - review

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 71 - 85, 22.12.2025

Romanus Peter Lyanda , Isaka J. Mwakitalima

https://doi.org/10.31593/ijeat.1723343

Abstract

This study article thoroughly investigates the achievements, uses, problems, and future possibilities of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in Tanzania. Despite plentiful solar resources (averaging 5-6 kWh/m²/day), Tanzania's electrification remains low, with just around 33% national and 17% rural access. While hydropower and natural gas dominate the grid, solar PV is developing as a major alternative for off-grid electricity. Currently, solar home systems (SHS) and mini-grids power around 25% of powered homes. The report reviews current research on global solar PV advances, such as high-efficiency crystalline silicon cells (e.g., PERC, TOPCon >25%), perovskite tandems (>29%), and cost reductions (LCOE: $0.044/kWh in 2023), and assesses their applicability to Tanzania.
Local pay-as-you-go (PAYG) SHS models reduce family energy expenses by 46% and emissions by 20-200 kg CO₂/year. Hybrid mini-grids (e.g., PV-battery-diesel) indicate economic feasibility in case studies like Juma Island. However, adoption confronts considerable challenges, including fragmented energy policy, underfunding of off-grid alternatives, high upfront costs, inadequate technical maintenance capability, and socio-cultural hesitation. The review identifies hybrid systems, solar irrigation, and AI-driven management as key future opportunities, but emphasizes that overcoming institutional inertia, improving local financing (e.g., local-currency loans), and strengthening community ownership models are critical for scaling solar PV to meet Tanzania's 75% electrification target by 2030.

Keywords

Energy policy Mini grids Renewable energy Rural electrification Solar PV Tanzania

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Renewable energy in Tanzania: Advancements in solar PV applications - review

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 71 - 85, 22.12.2025

Romanus Peter Lyanda , Isaka J. Mwakitalima

https://doi.org/10.31593/ijeat.1723343

Abstract

This study article thoroughly investigates the achievements, uses, problems, and future possibilities of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in Tanzania. Despite plentiful solar resources (averaging 5-6 kWh/m²/day), Tanzania's electrification remains low, with just around 33% national and 17% rural access. While hydropower and natural gas dominate the grid, solar PV is developing as a major alternative for off-grid electricity. Currently, solar home systems (SHS) and mini-grids power around 25% of powered homes. The report reviews current research on global solar PV advances, such as high-efficiency crystalline silicon cells (e.g., PERC, TOPCon >25%), perovskite tandems (>29%), and cost reductions (LCOE: $0.044/kWh in 2023), and assesses their applicability to Tanzania.
Local pay-as-you-go (PAYG) SHS models reduce family energy expenses by 46% and emissions by 20-200 kg CO₂/year. Hybrid mini-grids (e.g., PV-battery-diesel) indicate economic feasibility in case studies like Juma Island. However, adoption confronts considerable challenges, including fragmented energy policy, underfunding of off-grid alternatives, high upfront costs, inadequate technical maintenance capability, and socio-cultural hesitation. The review identifies hybrid systems, solar irrigation, and AI-driven management as key future opportunities, but emphasizes that overcoming institutional inertia, improving local financing (e.g., local-currency loans), and strengthening community ownership models are critical for scaling solar PV to meet Tanzania's 75% electrification target by 2030.

Keywords

Energy policy Mini grids Renewable energy Rural electrification Solar PV Tanzania

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There are 84 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Photovoltaic Power Systems, Solar Energy Systems, Renewable Energy Resources
Journal Section Review
Authors

Romanus Peter Lyanda 0009-0002-2740-0605

Isaka J. Mwakitalima 0009-0009-1986-5892

Submission Date June 20, 2025
Acceptance Date December 17, 2025
Publication Date December 22, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 11 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Lyanda, R. P., & Mwakitalima, I. J. (2025). Renewable energy in Tanzania: Advancements in solar PV applications - review. International Journal of Energy Applications and Technologies, 11(1), 71-85. https://doi.org/10.31593/ijeat.1723343
AMA Lyanda RP, Mwakitalima IJ. Renewable energy in Tanzania: Advancements in solar PV applications - review. IJEAT. December 2025;11(1):71-85. doi:10.31593/ijeat.1723343
Chicago Lyanda, Romanus Peter, and Isaka J. Mwakitalima. “Renewable Energy in Tanzania: Advancements in Solar PV Applications - Review”. International Journal of Energy Applications and Technologies 11, no. 1 (December 2025): 71-85. https://doi.org/10.31593/ijeat.1723343.
EndNote Lyanda RP, Mwakitalima IJ (December 1, 2025) Renewable energy in Tanzania: Advancements in solar PV applications - review. International Journal of Energy Applications and Technologies 11 1 71–85.
IEEE R. P. Lyanda and I. J. Mwakitalima, “Renewable energy in Tanzania: Advancements in solar PV applications - review”, IJEAT, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 71–85, 2025, doi: 10.31593/ijeat.1723343.
ISNAD Lyanda, Romanus Peter - Mwakitalima, Isaka J. “Renewable Energy in Tanzania: Advancements in Solar PV Applications - Review”. International Journal of Energy Applications and Technologies 11/1 (December2025), 71-85. https://doi.org/10.31593/ijeat.1723343.
JAMA Lyanda RP, Mwakitalima IJ. Renewable energy in Tanzania: Advancements in solar PV applications - review. IJEAT. 2025;11:71–85.
MLA Lyanda, Romanus Peter and Isaka J. Mwakitalima. “Renewable Energy in Tanzania: Advancements in Solar PV Applications - Review”. International Journal of Energy Applications and Technologies, vol. 11, no. 1, 2025, pp. 71-85, doi:10.31593/ijeat.1723343.
Vancouver Lyanda RP, Mwakitalima IJ. Renewable energy in Tanzania: Advancements in solar PV applications - review. IJEAT. 2025;11(1):71-85.