The 5^th Annual STERG SolarPACES Symposium took place on the 13^th of July 2017 and the 14^th of July 2017. We would like to thank all our sponsors, speakers and attendees! This year the symposium featured a record breaking 38 presentations. STERG’s research presentations were accompanied by presentations by our colleagues from the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), the University of Pretoria (UP) as well as the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Delegates and speakers at the 5th Annual STERG SolarPACES Symposium in Stellenbosch (14 July 2017; credit: Liesel Koch)

Three key-note addresses from Dr Tobias Bischof-Niemz (CSIR), Alberto Cuellar (Mott MacDonald) as well as Margaret Mutschler (Mutschler Consulting Services) provided an excellent glance into the world of energy planning and the status and potential of Concentrating Solar Power.

Our guests from industry succeeded in motivating the students and illustrating their challenges and successes in developing projects as well constructing and operating plants. Mr Terence Govender introduced the newly founded Solar Thermal Association of Southern Africa (STASA) to the audience. A panel discussion led by Prof van der Spuy further brought industry and academia close together.

Download the presentations from the symposium in the links below:

Thursday, 13.07.2017

Session 1: Opening & Keynote Address

• Prof. J van der Spuy – Introduction to STERG research group
• Dr T Bischof-Niemz (CSIR) – Energy Modeling for South Africa, Latest Approaches and Results in a Rapidly Changing Energy Environment

Session 2: Update on research activities by partners

• R Meyer (GeoSUN Africa) – The latest on DNI and Diffuse measurements options
• J Pitot (UKZN) – An Update on Research Activities at the Group for Solar Energy Thermodynamics

Session 3A: Plant modeling

• L Heller – Performance of a SUNDISC cycle CSP plant for off-grid baseload applications
• J-L Janse van Vuuren – Simulations showing how the SUNSPOT system cycle improves on conventional combined cycle technology
• L Karsten – An Organic Rankine Cycle as technology for Smaller Concentrated Solar Powered Systems
• R Barnes – Simulation, Verification and Optimisation of a Parabolic Trough Power Plant
• R Temlett – Dynamic Modelling of the HPS2 CSP molten salt trough test facility
• C Pan – Identification of optimum molten salts for use as heat transfer fluids in parabolic trough plants. A technoeconomic comparative optimization

Session 3B: Heliostats, optics & drones

• JR Wolmarans – Preliminary investigation into two-way fluid structure interaction of heliostat wind loads
• A Lötter – Investigation, evaluation and selection of optimal bearings to be employed in a newly designed heliostat
• M Claassen – An Investigation into the use of light diffraction for the closed-loop control of heliostats
• E Niit – Adaptive Control for a Quadcopter
• M Haller – An Investigation into Gimbal Pose Accuracy: The Accuracy of the Gimbal Model in the Frequency Domain

Keynote Address:

• Alberto Cuellar (Mott MacDonald) – Status of CSP in the country

Session 4A: Central receiver

• M Lubkoll – Performance prediction of the SCRAP receiver
• M Slootweg – Preliminary investigation into central receiver design for optimal optical and thermal performance
• M Jo Mathew – Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling of a Recessed Open Volumetric Receiver Configuration
• JC Nel – Development of an open volumetric air receiver for a rock-bed thermal energy storage system
• T Wolff –Receiver testing for an open solar-thermal Brayton cycle

Session 4B: Thermal modeling, thermal storage, heat engines

• J Swart – One-dimensional transient filling simulation of a molten salt central receiver panel
• H Laubscher – Commissioning of an Experimental Test Facility for Thermal Energy Storage in a Packed Bed of Rocks
• JG de la Bat – Design and manufacture of a testable 100We dual generator free piston Stirling engine
• B da Silva – The development of a reciprocating steam engine for use in small scale CSP plants

Session 5A: Parabolic trough and process heat

• R Laurie – Review: State of the art parabolic trough technology and the way moving forward
• W Krog – Solar live steam generation and solar bagasse drying for South African sugar mills
• L Hockaday – Solar thermal treatment of manganese ore fines

Session 5B: Systems modeling and policy

• F Duvenhage – Future CSP in South Africa – a review of electricity (generation) mix models and their results
• G Prentice – Strategic management framework for the commercialization of multi-technology renewable energy systems: The case of concentrating solar power technologies in South Africa

Friday, 14.07.2017

Session 1: Opening, industry presentations & Keynote Address

• Gordon Gadney & Ernest Dall (NamPower) – NamPower CSP development
• Margaret Mutschler (Mutschler Consulting Services) – Potential of CSP with focus on Namibia and the region
• Prof J van der Spuy (STERG) – MinWaterCSP
• Ian Poole (Nedbank) – Project Finance for Concentrating Solar Power in Africa
• Terence Govender (STASA) – STASA – Solar Thermal Association of Southern Africa

Session 2: Industry presentations

• Juliun Lopez Garrido (Abengoa Solar) – Abengoa Solar
• Terence Govender (SolarReserve) – SolarReserve
• Nandu Bhula (ACWA) – Bokpoort CSP Plant and Production Overview
• Prof J van der Spuy (STERG) – Panel Discussion

For presentations from previous STERG SolarPACES Symposiums (2013-2016) click here.

Mr Terence Govender (SolarReserve) presenting at the symposium (top left), guests enjoying a coffee break (top right), STERG student Henk Laubscher introducing his work (bottom left) and an impression from the technical tour at SUNREC (bottom right); credit: Mbali Mabaso/Matti Lubkoll

For all questions with regards to the the 5^th Annual STERG SolarPACES Symposium please feel free to contact Dr Matti Lubkoll (matti@sun.ac.za) or call +27 (0)21 808 4242.

Endorsement

The 5^th Annual STERG SolarPACES Symposium is endorsed by SolarPACES.

Event Sponsors

Many thanks to our sponsors:

Research Group Sponsors

Many thanks to the sponsors of the research group: