Tanzania effectively underway to attain clear vitality transition.
The nation’s success story has been enhanced by Siemens Power’s funding in Ubungo Energy Plant in Dar Es Salaam.
The know-how to drive the vitality transition is out there, and Siemens Power says it has capability to make it accessible.
Tanzania faces two basic vitality transition challenges, reaching common entry to reasonably priced, dependable, sustainable, and trendy vitality companies by 2030, as set out within the United Nation´s Sustainable Improvement Purpose 7. The nation can also be eager on growing the availability of electrical energy to gasoline financial development and enhance livelihoods whereas avoiding a lock-in to polluting fossil fuels.
To this finish, we spoke to François Xavier Dubois, Head of Enterprise Improvement for Siemens Power East Africa in regards to the progress made and the limitations to transition to scrub vitality in Tanzania. We additionally explored the importance of gasoline to energy, inexperienced hydrogen, and the potential for collaboration within the area’s vitality future.
QN: Might you share a few of Siemens Power’s current initiatives within the area?
ANS: Siemens Power has been on the coronary heart of transformative initiatives throughout East Africa, every enjoying a pivotal function in shaping the area’s vitality future.
Take the Ethiopia-Kenya Excessive Voltage Direct Present (HVDC) Connection, for instance. This groundbreaking mission isn’t only a technical achievement—it’s an emblem of regional cooperation. By linking Ethiopia’s considerable hydropower assets to Kenya’s rising demand, this 2 GW electrical energy change has confirmed how cross-border vitality partnerships can energy total economies whereas fostering sustainability.
In Tanzania, our work on the Ubungo Energy Plant in Dar Es Salaam tells one other highly effective story. Right here, three SGT-800 gasoline generators provide 100 MW of electrical energy, assembly the town’s rising vitality wants with excessive effectivity. For a lot of, this implies dependable energy for properties, companies, and industries, driving Tanzania’s aspirations for financial development.
In the meantime, in Mozambique, Siemens Power is contributing to 2 transformative initiatives. At Whole Energies’ LNG web site in Cabo Delgado, we’re supplying cutting-edge, emissions-reducing energy era tools and boil-off gasoline compressors. This isn’t nearly vitality manufacturing; it’s about unlocking the potential of Mozambique’s pure assets in an environmentally accountable manner. Concurrently, on the 450 MW Central Térmica de Temane energy plant, six SGT-800 gasoline generators are serving to ship electrical energy that’s each environment friendly and clear, showcasing how superior know-how can help sustainable improvement.
Heading north to Ethiopia, we’re proud to play a key function within the Asela Wind Farm mission. In partnership with Ethiopian Electrical Energy (EEP), we’re commissioning a 100 MW onshore wind farm to harness the nation’s pure wind assets. This mission represents Ethiopia’s dedication to renewable vitality and Siemens Power’s dedication to serving to nations meet their inexperienced vitality objectives.
These initiatives spotlight Siemens Power’s capability to ship impactful, tailor-made options. In addition they reveal the immense potential for cross-border vitality collaborations, just like the Ethiopia-Kenya HVDC connection. Think about a future the place related partnerships lengthen throughout Uganda and Tanzania or Ethiopia and Tanzania, creating an internet of shared vitality assets that stabilize grids and speed up renewable vitality adoption. That imaginative and prescient isn’t far off, and Siemens Power is able to make it a actuality.
QN: The know-how is already there to make the transition occur – what do you see because the limitations?
A: The know-how to drive the vitality transition is prepared, and Siemens Power is on the forefront of constructing it accessible. However know-how by itself isn’t sufficient—we’d like collaboration throughout governments, companies, and communities to really make this transformation occur. It’s about discovering the correct stability between affordability, reliability, and sustainability whereas addressing the challenges that include geopolitical pressures and the race to fulfill net-zero targets.
One of many largest hurdles we face is timing. Creating vitality initiatives in Africa usually takes years—typically 5 – 6—earlier than they attain Monetary Shut. That’s simply too gradual to maintain up with the rising demand for vitality, pushed by inhabitants development and industrialization. We have to see quicker decision-making and streamlined processes so initiatives can transfer ahead extra effectively and ship outcomes after they’re wanted most.
One other main problem is outdated laws. Power methods at this time are extra advanced and interconnected than ever, and the rules in lots of nations haven’t saved up. For instance, ideas like wheeling, the place energy is generated in a single place and utilized in one other, aren’t totally supported in lots of areas. And insurance policies to reward grid stability or modernize transmission fashions are nonetheless missing. With out these updates, integrating renewables and attracting non-public funding turns into a lot tougher.
Then there’s the problem of funding. Many governments within the area are balancing competing priorities like healthcare, training, and infrastructure, all whereas managing tight budgets and debt constraints. Unlocking private-sector funding is essential, nevertheless it received’t occur until there’s a transparent, secure, and clear atmosphere that reduces dangers for buyers.
Past these big-picture challenges, it’s additionally necessary to acknowledge that each nation is ranging from a special level. Some have robust renewable vitality assets however weak grids. Others could have outdated rules or particular dangers that make funding tough. There’s no single resolution that works in all places. Every nation wants a tailor-made technique that takes under consideration its distinctive scenario whereas additionally encouraging regional collaboration when it is sensible.
And talking of infrastructure, we are able to’t discuss in regards to the vitality transition with out specializing in the grid. It’s the spine of any vitality system, nevertheless it usually doesn’t get the eye it deserves. Many nations give attention to constructing new energy crops however neglect the grid itself. That’s an issue, particularly as extra renewable vitality comes on-line. Grids must be modernized and made extra dependable to allow them to deal with the variability of renewables and guarantee stability. It’s not nearly including extra capability—it’s about ensuring the vitality flows the place it’s wanted, when it’s wanted.
On the finish of the day, the items are all there. The know-how exists, and the need to transition is rising. However success will rely on how effectively we are able to work collectively—governments, companies, and communities—to deal with these challenges head-on. East Africa has unbelievable potential to guide this transformation, and with the correct focus and partnerships, I really consider we are able to make it occur.
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QN: What do you see as the importance of gas-to-power initiatives within the area?
A: East Africa has a wealth of renewable vitality assets—hydro, wind, geothermal, photo voltaic, and biomass. The truth is, some nations within the area are already main the best way, with over 80% of their electrical energy coming from inexperienced sources. That’s an incredible basis to construct on, and at Siemens Power, we’re enthusiastic about supporting this type of transition to a cleaner, extra sustainable vitality future.
That stated, renewable vitality alone isn’t sufficient to fulfill the area’s wants. Renewables like wind, photo voltaic, and even hydro are inherently variable—they rely on the climate, the time of day, or the season. To completely combine them into the vitality combine, you want different applied sciences to bridge the gaps when the wind isn’t blowing or the solar isn’t shining. Batteries are an incredible resolution for short-term storage, however they’re not but able to offering the form of long-term reliability that’s wanted. That’s the place gas-to-power initiatives are available.
Fashionable gasoline generators, particularly in mixed cycle setups, are extremely environment friendly and dependable. They supply the flexibleness wanted to stability the grid, making certain there’s all the time energy out there when renewables can’t ship. In comparison with options like reciprocating engines, gasoline generators even have important environmental benefits—they use much less lubricant and produce far fewer nitrogen oxides, which makes them a cleaner selection for assembly vitality demand.
Trying forward, gas-to-power initiatives are about extra than simply filling at this time’s vitality gaps. They’re additionally an important stepping stone towards a net-zero future. As an example, Siemens Power is already designing gasoline generators that may run on hydrogen, which is a totally clear gasoline. Proper now, our generators can function with as much as 70% hydrogen, and we’re working to make them 100 per cent hydrogen-ready by 2030. Which means the gasoline crops we’re constructing at this time can transition to totally inexperienced fuels sooner or later, making certain they continue to be an important a part of the vitality combine with out contributing to emissions.
In the long term, we see gasoline energy crops as a key piece of a renewable-based vitality system. They supply the reliability and dispatchable energy wanted to stabilize the grid, whereas additionally paving the best way for a future the place those self same crops can run on clear hydrogen. It’s all about creating an vitality system that’s not solely sustainable but in addition adaptable to the wants of future generations.
QN: Are there any inexperienced hydrogen initiatives on the horizon?
A: Completely. Since shifting to East Africa in 2023, I’ve been amazed on the degree of curiosity and exercise round inexperienced hydrogen. There’s a rising variety of builders engaged on initiatives like inexperienced fertilizer, eSAF (sustainable aviation gasoline), eAmmonia, eMethanol, and different hydrogen-based options. It’s an thrilling time as a result of these initiatives have the potential to not solely remodel the vitality sector but in addition reshape industries like agriculture, transport, and manufacturing.
That stated, inexperienced hydrogen continues to be a comparatively new know-how, and it requires constructing a whole ecosystem from scratch. Issues like laws, offtake agreements, and standardization all must be developed and agreed upon. It’s a posh course of, and understandably, it’s taken a while for the market to totally grasp the challenges and work out methods to overcome them.
Trying forward, I believe the following two to 5 years will probably be pivotal. We’re getting ready to seeing the primary sizable inexperienced hydrogen initiatives within the area—these within the vary of fifty to 200 MW. What’s significantly thrilling is that many of those early initiatives are centered on native offtake, which means they’ll produce hydrogen-based merchandise to be used proper right here within the area. This not solely reduces dependency on imports but in addition creates jobs and strengthens native economies.
There’s nonetheless work to be executed, however the momentum is there, and I’m assured that East Africa is positioned to turn into a pacesetter in inexperienced hydrogen innovation. It’s an area to look at, and Siemens Power is dedicated to supporting the event of this transformative sector.
QN: What are you most trying ahead to, and what would you prefer to see come out of conversations on the East Africa Power Cooperation Summit (EA-ECS)?
A: What excites me most about EA-ECS is the chance it creates for collaboration. The vitality transition is a problem no single group or authorities can sort out alone—it requires everybody, from policymakers to personal sector leaders, to return collectively and work towards shared options. Occasions like this are vital as a result of they act as catalysts, bringing the correct individuals into the room to maneuver initiatives ahead and unlock new prospects.
I’m particularly trying ahead to the open conversations that occur at these summits. They’re an opportunity to place all of the challenges we face on the desk—whether or not it’s financing, infrastructure, or coverage—and sort out them collectively. It’s not nearly sharing concepts however discovering actual, actionable options that may profit not simply the vitality sector, but in addition the communities and industries that rely on it.
On the coronary heart of it, the objective is to drive significant progress—progress that’s honest, sustainable, and inclusive. It’s about ensuring that as we transition to greener vitality, we’re additionally fostering social and industrial improvement in a manner that advantages everybody. That’s the form of impression I’m hoping to see come out of this summit, and I’m optimistic that the conversations we’ll have will pave the best way for simply that.
