Tanzania has one of the lowest rates of electrifi cation in the world. Zara Solar and its sister company Mona-Mwanza Electrical & Electronics both based in Mwanza provide high-quality, aff ordable PV systems in Northern Tanzania. Zara Solar is a rapidly growing business that uses a network of self-employed technicians to reach out to the remote rural areas.

A new revolutionary, renewable and clean energy product is showing the light, quite literally in many rural homes. The Kisan Torches and Lanterns manufactured by the Freeplay Energy Group and distributed by IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd) need no batteries, no kerosene, no electricity and come with a very long shelf life including one year warranty.

The promotion of renewable energy is in line with India

Orlando Wagner and Jochen Hauff compare the booming renewables market with other sectors where a boom has been followed by a bust, on the lookout for danger signals. They conclude that the renewable energy sector has strong foundations - but does have some areas of vulnerability, which they examine in detail.

As would be expected in a maturing market, there are considerable changes in the wind energy industry, particularly when viewed over a period of several years rather than in any one year in particular. The size of wind farms continues to grow, as does the size of the wind turbines which populate them.

Biomass based power generation is one of the promising renewable options. This article reviews the status and potential of biomass based power for India.