Advancing Climate Action: Localized potential of Renewable Energy and its Obstacles
During this discussion, we brought Tanzania’s and Kenya’s perspectives on the localized potential of renewable energy (RE) as a climate-action mechanism.
Both countries have a huge potential to venture into the wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biogas productions. However, lack of prior knowledge among the locals, corruption, and lack of funding are some of the evidenced hindrances.
TAKE HOME POINTS:
- Climate change cannot be addressed using a single mechanism
- The energy sector is one of the major contributors to carbon emissions
- Political influences stand between establishment and smooth implementation of local RE innovations
- Corruption is a massive monster to homegrown RE innovations
- Lack of funding/investors is a huge problem
- Tanzania has recognized homegrown RE inventions including private-owned mini-grids
- Kenya has ambitious RE goals by 2020 but yet to attain them
- We should encourage, support and fund localized potentials
The meeting was held via zoom on Tuesday, 12/05/2020, at 3.00pm, moderated by Caroline Kibii.
The guests were:
Phil Msuya, Country Coordinator (Private Financing Advisory Network)PFAN, Tanzania & Renewable Energy Consultant, Tanzania
AND
Kefas Okaka, Co-founder, Biomakaa Ltd , Kenya. Briquettes production Consultant & Environment Scientist
The recorded version of the discussion is here
