Go green, think green: Green economy initiative.
Green homes use sustainable materials that have a low impact on the environment. Several governments also offer subsidies to individuals who go by the sustainable path. In the US, for instance, you are likely to receive attractive rebates on your energy bills, should you choose to install solar energy panels in your homes.
Tanzania has promising levels of solar energy, ranging between 2,800 and 3,500 hours of sunshine per year and a global horizontal radiation of 4–7 kWh per m2 per day. Solar radiation is particularly high in the central region of the country.
To date, about 6 MW of solar off-grid PV has been installed countrywide. PV installations are generally used at villages, schools, hospitals, health centers, police stations, small telecommunications enterprises and households, as well as for lighting, street lighting and basic electricity needs. The government, through the REA and various donors, has supported a number of solar PV expansion programs. One grid-connected PV plant has been commissioned to date. The 1 MW-plant produces about 1,800 MWh/year. The potential for grid-connected solar PV is estimated to amount to 800 MW.
In the short-term, the Power System Master Plan (PSPM) 2007-2031 envisages the construction of 120 MW of PV capacity by 2018. Several private companies have expressed interest in developing 50–100 MW solar plants, (
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