Benefits and challenges to productive use of off-grid rural electrification: The case of mini-hydropower in Bulongwa-Tanzania
Summary. A mini-hydropower minigrid in southern Tanzania enabled productive uses including barber shops, welding, phone charging, and salons. However, the system faces sustainability challenges: poor initial planning, lack of technicians and spare parts, inadequate tariffs that don't reflect market prices, and insufficient power capacity requiring load shedding. Subsidized electricity alone cannot drive rural business growth without addressing technical resources, planning, and pricing structures.
Cite this article
Ngowi, J. M., Bångens, L., & Ahlgren, E. O.. (2019). Benefits and challenges to productive use of off-grid rural electrification: The case of mini-hydropower in Bulongwa-Tanzania. Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2019.10.001
Ngowi, Joseph M., et al. “Benefits and challenges to productive use of off-grid rural electrification: The case of mini-hydropower in Bulongwa-Tanzania.” Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2019.10.001.
Ngowi, Joseph M., Lennart Bångens, and Erik O. Ahlgren. 2019. “Benefits and challenges to productive use of off-grid rural electrification: The case of mini-hydropower in Bulongwa-Tanzania.” Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2019.10.001.
@article{ngowi-2019-benefits-challenges-productive-use-off,
title = {Benefits and challenges to productive use of off-grid rural electrification: The case of mini-hydropower in Bulongwa-Tanzania},
author = {Joseph M. Ngowi and Lennart Bångens and Erik O. Ahlgren},
journal = {Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1016/j.esd.2019.10.001},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2019.10.001}
}
TY - JOUR TI - Benefits and challenges to productive use of off-grid rural electrification: The case of mini-hydropower in Bulongwa-Tanzania AU - Joseph M. Ngowi AU - Lennart Bångens AU - Erik O. Ahlgren JO - Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development PY - 2019 DO - 10.1016/j.esd.2019.10.001 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2019.10.001 ER -
Details
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.esd.2019.10.001
- Countries
- Tanzania
- Regions
- Africa
- Categories
- energy, entrepreneurship
- Added
- 2026-04-28