Researchers develop clean energy solutions

ZANZIBAR: RESEARCHERS from African and European universities are developing renewable energy technologies for cooking and food preservation in a bid to reduce dependence on firewood and charcoal, protect forests and improve livelihoods.

The innovations include solar-powered cooking systems that store heat for later use and food preservation technologies designed to reduce waste and extend the shelf life of food.

Speaking at a meeting of the NORHED II Energy Technology Network (ENET) project in Zanzibar on Tuesday, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) project coordinator Dr Joseph Kihedu said the research aimed to develop affordable, clean energy solutions tailored to community needs, particularly in East Africa.

He said the project brought together UDSM, Makerere University in Uganda, Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), with broader collaboration involving universities in Malawi and South Sudan.

Dr Kihedu said the technologies could benefit households and institutions, including prisons, restaurants and refugee camps, by reducing environmental damage associated with reliance on traditional cooking fuels.

He added that researchers were working with governments, universities and other stakeholders to translate the innovations into practical solutions that could be adopted by potential users.

The meeting, held at the Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority (ZURA) building, brought together project coordinators, researchers and PhD graduates to review progress and strengthen academic cooperation.

Opening the meeting on behalf of the UDSM Director of Research and Publications, Dr Leonard Binamungu said the project was part of a longstanding partnership that had supported energy research and postgraduate training for nearly two decades.

He urged participating institutions to sustain the research network beyond the project’s completion, assuring them of UDSM’s continued support for joint initiatives.

Running from 2021 to 2026, the six-year ENET project builds on earlier cooperation between African universities and Norwegian partners.

ALSO READ: Tanzania moves to add value to tea products, use clean energy to produce quality tea

Dr Binamungu said the collaboration had strengthened research links and created opportunities for knowledge exchange.

NTNU coordinator Professor Ole Jorgen Nydal said the partnership had spent about 20 years advancing small-scale renewable energy technologies, including solar-powered systems for cooking, baking and cold food storage.

He said the cooperation had also supported a European Union-funded project that contributed to 17 PhD research studies, improved access to training equipment and promoted the exchange of academic expertise.

One of the project beneficiaries, Mbeni John Mdee, said his research focused on modifying conventional pumps to generate hydropower, potentially offering an affordable option for electricity generation.

He said the approach could make use of commercially available equipment or machinery that was no longer in use, subject to the necessary modifications.

UDSM lecturer Dr Adula Syikilili said the partnership had strengthened research capacity through funding, improved laboratory facilities and closer links between local and international universities.

However, he called for sustained investment in research funding and infrastructure to advance the innovations and ensure they benefited communities that still depended on firewood and charcoal.

He urged universities, governments and development partners to work together to translate research findings into practical solutions that expand access to clean energy and support environmental conservation.