TAREA realizes its objective through underneath activities:
Advocacy/Lobby: TAREA conducts advocacy and lobbying to create enabling environment (policies, regulations, finance schemes) for the implementation of activities that facilitate scaling up access to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Some of the successful lobby works are (1) VAT exemptions on solar and wind technologies in the year 2005; (2) Retention of VAT exemptions on solar technologies in the year 2015; (3) National Environment Management Council developing a checklist for Environmental Impact Social Assessment for the solar photovoltaic project below or equal to 1MW in the year 2018; (4) Tanzania Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) to develop renewable energy curriculum in the year 2015; (5) Energy and Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA) to develop Net Metering Scheme in the year 2018 (6) Energy and Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA) review the electricity installation law to accommodate informally trained artisans in the year 2019; (7) Developing charcoal and stoves standards 2019 (8) Finding Authority to Coordinate Biomass Cooking Technologies, Vice President Office is now the coordinator (2020); (9) Developing minimum performance standards of solar irrigation pumps in 2020 (10) Registration of East Africa Renewable Energy Federation in 2021 and (11) Piloting efficient cookstoves for 2 secondary schools in Malinyi district;.
Ongoing activities are (1) Enabling the environment for renewable energy mini-grids; (2) Enabling Tanzania Smallholder Farmers to Access Solar Irrigation Technologies (VAT exemptions); (3) VAT exemptions on biomass cooking technologies; (4) Entries of the data of biomass cooking appliances into the Tanzania Mainland Energy Use Reports; (5) Ministry of Health establishing data collection on the impacts of the cooking fuels on the human health; (6) Developing a national framework for leapfrogging to energy-efficient refrigerators and distribution transformers in Tanzania through Regulatory and Finance Mechanisms, in partnership with CLASP; (7) Enabling employability of girls through solar technology in Masasi district; (8) Promotion of education and training through the use of renewable energies, the establishment of the environmental education centre and CO2, compensation measures in Masasi; and (9) Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO) to implement Net Metering Scheme 2018
Planned activities are (1) Removal of VAT on solar fishing lights; (2) Development and enforcement of electronic waste collection/recycling regulations; (3) Hydrogen be recognized as one of the sources of the green electricity; and (4) Regulations of developing direct uses of geothermal energy (5) Development of the Minimum Energy Performance Standards of Solar Water Heaters; and (6) Development of the Minimum Performance Standards of the Solar Street Lights.
Training: TAREA conducts different renewable energy and energy efficiency-related training for the instructors, installers, retailers, regulators, officers of district councils, decision-makers, project developers and end-users. The biggest work that was done by TAREA was training more than 2000 solar installers and 50 instructors through the Tanzania Government project of Sida/MEM Solar Photovoltaic. TAREA with the support of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) initiated training of biomass stove producers in the regions of Lindi and Mtwara. TAREA organizes opportunities for members to undergo continued training at the international level. Members have already participated in the training of efficient energy use (Sweden), Sustainable Environmental Assessment (Sweden), Wind power planning and use (Sweden and India), Solar photovoltaic (India and Egypt) and Wind power small turbines (India). Also, TAREA conducts in-country training using local consultants and authorities. Also, TAREA supports students in securing practical training places from the company members.
TAREA is implementing the following capacity building projects: (1) Employability of disadvantaged girls in Masasi. 20 girls are trained to become solar photovoltaic artisans (2021-22); (2) Training of 16 solar artisans for Masasi District Council and Masasi Town Council (2022); (3) Participating in the Global Renewable Energy Capacity Building of LIFE Academy (2019-22); and Uganda Renewable Energy Program of LIFE Academy (2022-23).
Awareness-raising: TAREA conducts activities of raising awareness of renewable energy technologies among the planners, decision-makers, financiers and end-users. The awareness-raising is done through: the installation of the renewable energy systems that are used for community energy access; village energy demonstrations; national renewable energy days; radio and television live talk programs; printed materials like newspaper articles; leaflets; e-newsletters; and social media. It also conducts workshops, site visits, and programs of renewable energy lectures for the pupils of primary and secondary schools, and students of colleges and universities.
Enabling community access to renewable energy: TAREA implements programs that enable communities to access renewable energy. Some of the programs already implemented were the installation of a solar photovoltaic system at Matekwe Secondary School in Lindi, the Feasibility study of renewable energy at Lugala Lutheran Hospital in Malinyi, and the installation of street lights at the Malinyi bus stand and marketplace. Currently, it implements activities of enabling households to access lighting solar kits through VICOBAs in Malinyi and Kilombero Districts. Also, TAREA installs demo renewable energy systems to show the community the potential of renewable energy technologies.
Sector and end-users protection: Tanzania is prone to the problems of substandard and counterfeit products of renewable energy technologies. The technology that is most affected is solar photovoltaic. TAREA works together with the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) in developing standards and testing procedures. It further works with TBS in conducting market surveillance. On the demand side, TAREA conducts the campaign to sensitize the end-users on the presence of substandard solar products and how to save themselves from the problems. TAREA provides a "call recommendation service" to individuals who want to procure solar photovoltaic products.
Promotion of environmental and energy-efficient technologies: TAREA promotes the use of energy-efficient equipment/appliances. TAREA is implementing the project "Combating Climate Change in Tanzania" to disseminate clean biomass cooking stoves to the households in Kilombero and Malinyi districts. Also, TAREA scales up the use of solar fishing lights on Lake Victoria.
Research: TAREA conducts various applied research in the market information; environment protection; and use of renewable energy technologies. TAREA has concluded the research on the use of solar photovoltaic lanterns for fishing in Mwanza and the product is in the marketing phase. TAREA is currently conducting applied research on Lake Tanganyika to introduce solar fishing light with Korean member. The initiative started in the year 2021.
Information collection and sharing: TAREA collects various renewable energy information and shares it with the renewable energy stakeholders. Currently, TAREA distributes free of charge a Swahili Solar Photovoltaic Booklet that was written by member Godwin Msigwa, and a booklet TAREA Success Stories 2021-2020.
Renewable energy stakeholders networking: TAREA works to network various renewable energy stakeholders at the national and regional levels. It has networked itself to various international bodies. It has two branch offices in Mwanza and Arusha.
Project implementation support: TAREA provides technical support to the project developers. The service consists of planning; designs; technical specifications; developing proposals; tendering process and verification of conformity to the specifications. TAREA is involved in the evaluation of the projects assessing the impacts. TAREA supported big projects implemented by the USAID-TUNAJALI Program in the regions of Dodoma, Morogoro, Iringa, Njombe and Singida, Currently is working with the projects of Biomass Policy Dialogue of EnDev, and Climate Change in Masasi of Enzkreis.