The Stellio heliostat developed by schlaich bergermann und partner (sbp), holds its ground through technical economic studies that evaluated its efficacy and cost-efficiency. "After months of tests Stellio heliostat confirms unprecedented optical quality. The sbp sonne team is thrilled to obtain formal recognition for what is known to be the best-in-class heliostat technology internationally available." [...]
A two year Scholarship is available to study towards a Masters degree in Renewable Energy Studies at a South African University, commencing in 2016. Students should be from a background of engineering, science, technology, built environment, or law. · Only South African citizens or permanent residents may apply · Application via the website · Closing [...]
The World Wide Fund for Nature in South Africa (WWF-SA) identified the continued reliance on coal to generate more than two-thirds of the country's electricity as a threat to natural resources such as land and water, which are critical to the agricultural sector and will consequently present increased challenges in terms of the food-energy-water nexus. [...]
The third annual STERG symposium was held at in the Knowledge Centre of the Engineering Faculty of Stellenbosch University on 14 and 15 July 2015. The first day of the STERG symposium was also the last day of the fifth annual Renewable Energy Postgraduate Symposium held by the Centre of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies. [...]
One week ago a number of STERG members completed a pleasant and informative technical tour to selected renewable energy plants in the Northern Cape. The power plants and sites that were visited includes SERE wind farm, Konkoonsies 10 MW photovoltaic facility, Ripasso's Stirling Dish site (photo), Kaxu, Xina and Khi Solar One CSP plants and [...]
South Africa's first Concentrating Solar Power plant was connected to the grid in March this year. This 100 MW plant is owned by Abengoa who is also complete Khi Solar One and Xina Solar One. Xaxu represents a sixth of the generation capacity allocated to CSP through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme. [...]
Members of STERG and the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies attended the 3rd South African Solar Energy Conference in Kruger National Park from 11-13 May. The annual conference provides researchers in solar energy the opportunity to present on all solar energy-related research and development topics and also provides a platform for research collaboration. [...]
The Swedish company, Ripasso, has been testing their 100 square meter, 34% efficient dishes in the Kalahari four the past four years and are now ready for their first large scale installation. The company has hired their entire South African team locally and despite of some bankability challenges, have hopes of "becoming one of the [...]
SolarPACES is coming to Cape Town this October, 13th to 16th. SolarPACES is the most relevant conference for researchers in the field of concentrating solar power systems and is coming to our door step this year. Certainly STERG will again be well represented at the event! It provides an excellent opportunity to see many members [...]
CSP plants, like all other power generation plants, require constant monitoring and maintenance to operate at optimal levels. In the case of CSP plants, the maintenance required involves cleaning, re-aligning and calibrating the mirrors. Due to the sheer volume of mirrors present on a typical CSP plant, these simple maintenance procedures may become lengthy and [...]
