Listing of STERG members

STERG Staff

  • Prof Thomas Harms: Research Group Director; Head of Division: Thermo-fluids dynamics (CFD, Linear Fresnel, Atmospheric flows) at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Craig McGregor: Incoming Research Group Director; Associate Professor at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Dr Matti Lubkoll: Research Group Coordinator; Sr Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Dr Willie Smit: Research Projects Management; Sr Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Mrs Leigh van der Merwe: Admin & Financial Officer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Mrs Taneha Hans: Transformation Officer
  • Dr Marcel Dunaiski: Project Engineer
  • Elias Basson: Project Engineer
  • Chinedu Amadi: Project Engineer
  • Stefaans Erasmus: Project Engineer

Faculty

  • Prof Alan Brent:  Professor (Extra-ordinary) at Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University; Victoria University of Wellington
  • Prof Frank Dinter: Professor (Extra-ordinary) at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University; Fraunhofer CSET
  • Mr Theuns Dirkse van Schalkwyk: Lecturer at Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Mr Robert Dobson: Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Paul Gauche: Associate Professor (Extra-ordinary) at Industrial Engineering & founding member of STERG; Sandia National Laboratories
  • Prof Albert Groenwold: Sr Lecturer (Structural Optimization) at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Mr Richard Haines: Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Chris Meyer: Sr Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Dr Jacques Muiyser: Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Dr Mike Owen: Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Dr Jaap Hoffmann: Sr Lecturer at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Ben Sebitosi: Thermo-Fluid Division at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Johan van der Spuy: STERG Solar Thermal Spoke Grant Holder; Professor at Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Wikus van Niekerk: Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University
  • Prof Theo von Backström: Senior Researcher and Emeritus Professor (Solar Chimney, Solar Thermal Storage, CSP Technologies, Turbines, CSP System Analysis), Stellenbosch University

Postgraduate researchers

  • Mr Gerhard Bekker: MEng Student (The detailed modelling of an axial flow CSP-fan in CFD using open source software)
  • Mr Nathan Bernstein: MEng Student (CFD modelling of ambient air flow through a concentrating solar power receiver structure)
  • Mr Philip Bothma: MEng Student (Comparison of rock-bed TES charged from CSP technology to using PV generated heat)
  • Mr Johan Burger: MEng Student (Solar thermal chemical storage options for CSP plants)
  • Mr Marius Claassen:  PhD Student (Investigating the use of light diffraction for the closed-loop control of heliostats in central Reciever type CSP systems)
  • Mr Steve Clark: PhD Student (The use of natural gas to facilitate the transition to renewable electric power generation in Southern Africa)
  • Mrs Imke de Kock: PhD Student: (Management of the introduction and diffusion of nexus technologies towards large-scale far-reaching socio-technical change)
  • Mr Jean-Gerard de la Bat:  MEng Student (Theoretical Simulation, Manufacture and Experimental Evaluation of a Free-Piston Stirling Engine)
  • Mr Murray Dundas-Starr: MEng Student (Integrating solar thermal resource into current fossil fuel plants)
  • Ms Clarice Du Plessis: PhD Student (Scaling of Axial Fan Noise)
  • Mr Frank Duvenhage: PhD Student (Sustainable future CSP fleet management in South Africa: A hydrological approach to strategic management)
  • Mr Derwalt Erasmus: MEng Student (The advancement of spike tip jet impingement cooling through improved geometry)
  • Mrs Taneha Hans: PhD Student (Transient Operation of a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Brayton Cycle Power Generation System)
  • Mrs Lina Hockaday: PhD Student (Concentrated solar power for the minerals processing industry)
  • Mr Renier Janse van Vuuren: MEng Student (On-sun testing of a single spike of the spiked concept air preheater)
  • Mr Tyron Jardine: MEng Student (Design of Robot to clean Heliostat)
  • Mr Chisala Kapumpu: PhD Student (Modelling of the spherical thermocline for storing thermal energy in the rock bed)
  • Mr Abiola Kehinde: MEng Student (Feasibility study of once through cooling for 50MWe solar thermal power plant on/near the lower orange river. Trade-off between improved thermal efficiency against condenser fouling (suggest remedial measures), water treatment and environmental constraints)
  • Mr Marko Kiessling: MEng Student (Survey and synthesis of known and to be developed solar thermal chemical storage options for CSP plants (TBC))
  • Mr Andreas Liebenberg: MEng Student (Design of an adaptive CSP heliostat field control system)
  • Mr Schalk Lombard: MEng Student (Calibrating heliostats with drones)
  • Mr Foster Lubbe: MEng Student (Predicting location specific solar generation and cost benefit using Gaussian processes for machine learning)
  • Mr Simon Marincowitz: MEng Student (An experimental investigation on the effect of wind screens on ACC fan performance and dynamic blade loading)
  • Mr Tristan McKechnie: MEng Student (Assessing concentrating solar thermal plants for application in high temperature process heat generation)
  • Mr Matthew Meas: PhD Student (Investigation of the feasibility of a deconstructed gas turbine to compress air for a solar receiver)
  • Mr Zander Meiring: MEng Student (Modelling the performance of an axial flow fan using CFD)
  • Mr Thomas Meyer: MEng Student (Effect of tip region on noise and performance of axial flow fan)
  • Mr Helidio Mondlane: MEng Student (Development of the best Energy scenario for Mozambique (Renewable in combination with fossil resources)
  • Mr Noguès Ollier: MEng Student (Survey and synthesis of known and to be developed techno-economic options to enhance the profitability of parabolic trough CSP plants)
  • Mr Christoph Pan: PhD Student (The potential of PV enhanced CSP for economic base load electricity generation in South Africa)
  • Mr Ziyauddin Panchbhaya: MEng Student (Numerical/Experimental study of heat transfer enhancement on the inside of solar receiver tubes)
  • Mr Andani Siavhe: MEng Student (A CFD study of Air-Cooled Condensers)
  • Mr Tawanda Sibanda: MEng Student (Modification of the fuel injector system to run a gas turbine on biogas, outsource the biogas and compress it)
  • Mr Brian Ssebabi: PhD Student (Development of a micro-gas turbine for central receiver concentrating solar power systems)
  • Mr Ruan van Breda: PhD Student (Visual odometry system for drones)
  • Mr Petre van der Merwe: Special Student (Advanced integration of Heliopads)
  • Mr Vincent van der Merwe: MEng Student (Improve the state estimation of drones)
  • Ruan van der Westhuizen: MEng Student (Transient Simulation of a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) System)
  • Mr De Wet Van Rooyen: PhD Student (Development of an anastigmatic heliostat)
  • Mr Adam Venter: MEng Student (The effect of windscreens on ACC fan performance)

Affiliate members and visiting researchers

  • Dr Kenny Allen: Greenplan Consultants
  • Dr 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
  • Ms Karin Kritzinger: CRSES
  • Prof Sampson Mamphweli: CRSES
  • Mr Riaan Meyer:  CEO, GeoSun Africa
  • Ms Mbali Mtshali: Eskom
  • 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