Since its registration on May 7th, 2001, TAREA has been encouraging the use of renewable energies and environmentally friendly technologies in Tanzania.

Activities have included several projects in this area, most of them conducted in close cooperation with individual members, who have always been involved in planning and carrying out TAREA's engagements in the sector.

Since 2004, TAREA has a close partnership with the German-Tanzanian Partnership (DTP e.V.) from Hamburg. Since then, TAREA is hosting young German volunteers for twelve months every year that come to Tanzania in order to learn about renewable energies in places all over the country. In 2008, two Tanzanians were first sent to Germany in a reverse program, and this program has been continued in 2009. In the latter year, yet another program has commenced, now enabling several Tanzanians to enjoy a voluntary year in the sector of renewable energies here in Tanzania.

Meanwhile in 2005, TAREA and its corporate members initiated a campaign to convince the Government of Tanzania to exclude all solar energy products and all components of solar systems from VAT and import duty. The proposal was founded on the argument that those taxes were rendering solar systems too expensive for rural people to afford, although those were exactly the social group which would benefit the most from their use.

Following the proposal, the Government of Tanzania decided to exclude all solar system components from VAT and import duty. The tax relief was not instantly noticed in the Tanzanian market as subsidies on renewable energies in Europe led to rising prices, but lately the prices have been decreasing.

In the last year, TAREA has been focusing on the establishment of solar energy standards and increased public awareness raising.