Listing of STERG members

STERG Staff

  • Prof Craig McGregor: Research Group Director; Solar Thermal Spoke Grantholder; Associate Professor at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Mike Owen: Head of Division: Thermo-fluids Dynamics and Associate Professor Senior at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Dr Willie Smit: Research Projects Management; Sr Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Dr Hannes Pretorius: Senior Lecturer: Thermo-fluids at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Mrs Leigh van der Merwe: Admin & Financial Officer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University

Faculty

  • Mr Johann Bredell: Senior Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Paul Gauche: Associate Professor (Extra-ordinary) at Industrial Engineering; Founder and previous director of STERG; Vice President R&D, Heliogen Inc.
  • Mrs Taneha Hans: Junior Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Jaap Hoffmann: Associate Professor at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Ryno Laubscher: Associate Professor at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Mr Matthew Meas: Junior Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Chris Meyer: Associate Professor at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Josua Meyer: Professor at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Mr Carl Tshamala: Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Johan van der Spuy: Departmental Chairman at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Wikus van Niekerk: Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Dr Adam Venter: Junior Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University

Postgraduate researchers

  • Mr Zander Bisschoff: MEng Candidate (Developing a drone to wash heliostats)
  • Mr Nicholas Cato: MEng Candidate (Performance modelling of axial drive and power turbines for a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycle)
  • Mr Robert Cheesman-Hooper: MEng Candidate (Optimization of a natural draft direct dry cooling system (NDDDCS) for a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycle using an artificial-intelligence-based surrogate model)
  • Ms Caroline de Villiers: MEng Candidate (Design of a sCO2 compressor for a 50 MWe concentrated solar Brayton cycle using mean line analysis and CFD)
  • Mr Matthew Duckitt: MEng Candidate (Measuring the Performance of the 24ft installed Minwater CSP Axial Flow Fan)
  • Mr Hennie du Plessis: PhD Candidate (Optimization of turbomachinery layout for concentrated solar sCO2 power cycles with the aid of integrated thermofluid network modelling)
  • Mr Michael du Plessis: MEng Candidate (Alternative Solar Panel Backing Structure)
  • Mr Chaz Fenner: PhD Candidate (The development of a micro gas turbine combustor for hydrogen consumption)
  • Mr Eduard Fourie: MEng Candidate (Heat Transfer in Packed Beds of Crushed Rock)
  • Mr Alexander Greyling: MEng Candidate (The development of a 30 kW turboshaft micro gas turbine)
  • Mr Bennie Greyling: MEng Candidate (Mixed Flow Compressor Integration in the CAT 250 TJ Micro Gas Turbine Engine)
  • Mr Chisala Kapumpu: PhD Candidate (Modelling of the spherical thermocline for storing thermal energy in the rock bed)
  • Mr Tenzin Koetsier: MEng Candidate (Solar-aided power generation in the South African context: “greening” our coal)
  • Mr Llewellyn Kordom: MEng Candidate (Develop a Helio40 testing facility architecture using a digital twin approach)
  • Mr Rorisang Lekholoane: MEng Candidate (Design and development of a cable-actuated heliostat)
  • Ms Amber Leong-yu: Special Student (TBD)
  • Mr Tristan Le Roux: PhD Candidate (Axial Fan with Alternate Full Length and Short Blades to Promote Through-Low Near the Hub)
  • Mr Yinhla Makondo: Special Student (An assessment of the feasibility, energy and water saving potential of sea water air conditioning in South Africa)
  • Mr Leroy Marewangepo: Special Student (Indoor Visual Localisation of a robot using photogrammetric techniques)
  • Mr Luqmaan Mathee: MEng Candidate (Thermofluid design and modelling of a thermosyphon liquid sodium receiver concept)
  • Mr Matthew Meas: PhD Candidate (Investigation of the feasibility of a deconstructed gas turbine to compress air for a solar receiver)
  • Mr Arend Moelich: PhD Candidate (Development of concentrating solar optics for application in photoelectrochemical hydrogen)
  • Mr Tristan Nel: MEng Candidate (Modelling annual performance of a natural draft dry cooling tower using a deep learning-based surrogate model and Monte Carlo analysis)
  • Ms Christa Nsanzubuhoro: PhD Candidate (Developing laminar convective flow in circular inclined pipes of evacuated tube collectors)
  • Ms Takalani Ramatswana: MEng Candidate (Integration of Parabolic Trough Solar Thermal Systems for Process Heating in a South African Coal-to-Liquids Facility)
  • Ms Caitlin Ridout: MEng Candidate (CSP Grid Services for the South African Electricity Network)
  • Mr Garrett Ronan: MEng Candidate (Design and Testing of an Actuated heliostat Using Digital Camera-Based Feedback Control)
  • Dr Francois Rozon: Postdoctoral Fellow (Renewable energy system design for industrial steam users)
  • Mr Jean Schnaar-Campbell: MEng Candidate (Proof of Concept Aluminium Heliostat)
  • Mr Sarath Simon: MEng Candidate (Evaluation of local heat transfer and friction factor coefficient distribution in a U-type XCPC solar thermal collector tube operating as a thermosyphon)
  • Ms Leanrey Slater: MEng Candidate (Redesign of molten salt tanks)
  • Dr Varun Pratap Singh: Postdoctoral Fellow (Design, Development, Performance Testing and Evaluation of Concentrating Solar Collector Systems for High Temperature Heat Generation)
  • Mr Andries Steenkamp: MEng Candidate (Development of a 3D CFD Virtual Test Rig for Axial Flow Fans)
  • Mr Coenraad Swanepoel: PhD Candidate (Aerodynamic Noise Reduction on Large Scale Axial Flow Fans)
  • Ms Ellen Thipe: PhD Candidate (Thermal energy analysis and design tool for a solar greenhouse micro-climate management system in a semi-arid climate)
  • Mr Richard Turner: MEng Candidate (A Novel Heliostat Facet Design)
  • Mr Joseph Uti: PhD Candidate (Measuring the Optical Quality of a Heliostat with a Multicoper) (
  • Ms Denise van Kamp: MEng Candidate (Investigating the impact of site winds on utility-scale PV power plant output)
  • Mr Ruan van Breda: PhD Candidate (Visual odometry system for drones)
  • Mr Christoff van Niekerk: MEng Candidate (Natural draft dry heat rejection system of a supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle)
  • Mr Qhawe Vava: MEng Candidate (Financial Analysis of the Historic Bid-Prices of the REIPPP Program to Development Projections of Future RE Costs in South Africa)
  • Mr Ethan West: MEng Candidate (The accuracy of pose estimation in photogrammetry)
  • Mr Connal Winter: MEng Candidate (Measuring the optical quality of a heliostat)

Affiliate members and visiting researchers

  • Dr Kenny Allen: Greenplan Consultants
  • Prof Bernard Bekker: CRSES
  • Dr Michael Brooks:  University KwaZulu-Natal
  • Prof Ken Craig: University of Pretoria
  • Mr Sven du Clou: National Metrology Institute of South Africa
  • Mr Saliem Fakir:  WWF SA
  • Mr Theo Fischer: Escience Associates
  • Dr Paul Harper
  • Mr Gregor Heiming: RWTH Aachen University
  • Dr Lukas Heller: Ricardo
  • Dr Stefan Hess: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  • Mr Carel Jacobs: Stellenbosch University
  • Dr Atul Jadhav: Indian Institute of Packaging
  • Prof Christina Trois: CRSES
  • Mr Riaan Meyer:  CEO, GeoSun Africa
  • Mr Jean Pitot:  University KwaZulu-Natal
  • Mr Vikesh Rajpaul: Eskom
  • Dr Christoph Richter:  DLR (German Aerospace Center)
  • Mr Thomas Roos: CSIR
  • Mr Cebo Silinga: Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
  • Mr Imraan Solwa: International Finance Corporation of UCT