Electricity remains one of the most consequential forces behind global economic growth. From manufacturing and healthcare to digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence, modern economies are powered quite literally by reliable and affordable energy.
Yet for large parts of the developing world, access to electricity remains limited, costly, or environmentally unsustainable.
Against this backdrop, a young Tanzanian entrepreneur is advancing an unconventional proposition: electricity generation without reliance on fossil fuels, solar radiation, wind, or hydropower; instead, using the principles of kinetic energy.
The energy produced by motion is a well-established concept in physics and has long been applied in small-scale technologies such as bicycle dynamos and self-winding mechanical watches.
What makes this Tanzanian initiative noteworthy is its ambition to scale the concept beyond niche applications into a standalone power-generation system.
The founder of the locally based electrical engineering company, Mlelie Francisco Juma, says his team has completed a working prototype of a generator that produces electricity independently, without external fuel or renewable inputs.
“We are developing a generator that does not depend on fuel, solar panels, or wind,” he says. “The system generates electricity internally, and we believe the technology holds strong commercial and environmental potential.”
According to the innovator, who is also the founder of the system, it is built on thermodynamic principles and integrates multiple internal components, including capacitors, to store and regulate energy.
While technical validation and large-scale testing remain ongoing, he argues that the design could significantly lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions if successfully commercialized.
“I once encountered a watch that operated without a battery; its energy came from internal movement,” he recalls. “That moment sparked a deeper curiosity about how motion could be converted into reliable electrical power.”
That curiosity evolved into a business. Today, the company provides conventional electrical engineering services, including wiring and power systems for homes, offices, commercial buildings, and factories, as well as electrical fencing installations. Headquartered in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, the business currently sustains itself as research and development continue.
The prototype generator, he says, is capable of producing alternating current (AC) power and is now ready for further testing and refinement.
“Our immediate focus is improving efficiency and durability,” he notes. “In the long term, we see potential applications across households, consumer electronics, and even the transport sector.”
As with many ambitious energy innovations, skepticism has been unavoidable, particularly given the dominance of established renewable technologies such as solar and wind.
The entrepreneur, however, views doubt as part of the innovation cycle.
“Every disruptive idea faces resistance,” he says. “Progress depends on looking beyond what is familiar and being willing to test new possibilities.”
Industry observers caution that moving from prototype to mass production will require rigorous independent verification, regulatory approval and significant capital investment challenges common to energy startups globally.
“Commercializing this generator could create employment across engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and logistics,” he says. “If scaled nationally and internationally, it could also contribute to environmental sustainability.”
Africa’s energy challenge is not merely technical; it is economic and structural. According to international development agencies, millions across the continent remain off-grid, while businesses face high operating costs due to unreliable power supply.
Innovations emerging from within the continent, particularly those focused on affordability and decentralization, are increasingly attracting attention from policymakers and investors alike.
For this Tanzanian entrepreneur, the journey is only beginning.
“We are not claiming to have all the answers yet,” he says. “But Africa needs more innovators willing to challenge assumptions and build solutions from the ground up.”
Whether kinetic energy can redefine power generation remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the next chapter of global energy innovation may not come exclusively from established markets but from emerging entrepreneurs determined to rethink how the world is powered.