Partners in Tanzania
UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM (UDSM)
The University of Dar es salaam (UDSM) is reckoned for its excellence in teaching, research and outreach services. It is the first university in Tanzania and it has celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. The PISCES project at UDSM is implemented through its four units namely, the Campus Colleges of Engineering and Technology (CoET), College of Natural and Applied Science (CoNAS), the University of Dar es Salaam Entrepreneurship Centre (UDEC) and the Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA). The different units of UDSM have a good record of working on research in renewable, conventional, and biomass energy; energy efficiency; bio-energy development; innovation systems; environment, climate change; study of plants for understanding of both natural ecosystems and agriculture; and policy analysis. UDSM has a good track record of disseminating research results to the rural poor through outreach programmes, which include technology incubation, Cluster Initiatives (similar to Research into Use), SME clubs and providing community services.
UDSM is the PISCES group leading the technology research theme. The theme focuses on analyses, development and testing new and existing technologies, including plants, processes, appliances and practices, to provide policy-makers with improved information to analyse bioenergy pathways and outcomes. An emphasis has been on development of biofuel and bioenergy appliances which are easily accessible to rural communities.
KEY ACTIVITIES AND IMPACTS
- Modified biofuels technology for stationary engines has been developed in Tanzania to provide rural energy services and improved livelihoods. This includes physical chemical treatment of pure plant oils and blending with modifier to obtain modified pure plant oil (MPO). Field tests are to be carried out and business viability will be done based on the process and field test data. This last part of testing and assessing economic viability is done in collaboration with Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC). A collaboration agreement between UDSM and TPDC in technology uptake has been signed.
- Alternative non-edible indigenous biofuel crops have been identified. Eleven of the identified indigenous biocrops have been characterised, and tested. Propagation studies for five selected potential oilferous plant species have been done. Pilot farms of potential oilferous plant species will be carried out in other research programmes.
- Gasifier stoves technologies have been developed, to include the jatropha seed gasifier stove and rice husks gasifier stove. Jatropha seed gasifier stoves have been successfully field tested in Singida and Shinyanga region. Field tests of the rice husk gasifier stove are been carried out in training institutions in Morogoro.
- Tests that have been carried out on these new bioenergy appliances taken up in institutions and households in Tanzania has indicated a reduction of fuelwood use and has had a significant impact on health through reduced smoke production.