DEVELOPMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF A PICO-HYDRO SYSTEM IN SOUTHERN TANZANIA

Abstract

The demand for electricity has rapidly risen in rural Tanzania due to the spread of mobile phones. In a rural village in southern Tanzania, we collaborated with a group of villagers to develop a pico-hydro system with a screw turbine and introduced it to a flat plateau with a low water head. The power generation system was designed to take advantage of the fluvial environment and gentle slopes to counteract the drastic changes in water level that can occur throughout Africa. The project began in 2010 with a pico-hydro system using a traditional Japanese screw turbine, resulting in successful power generation in 2012. This study clarified key considerations in developing a community-based pico-hydro system. Low cost, locally sourced materials and equipment are advantageous. A lightweight screw turbine power generation system is transportable to meet changing water levels. Easy reproduction and/or modification can meet changing needs. The proposed system could provide stable electrical power for lights and mobile phones. Additionally, the cooperative exchange promoted by the project inspired the local people to create their own environmental groups to take on activities that supported sustainable natural resource use.