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
  • Prof Hannes Pretorius: Associate Professor: 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 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

Postgraduate researchers

  • Mr Chinedu Amadi: PhD Candidate (Closed-loop Control of Heliostats)
  • Mr Diego Blankenberg: Special Student (Development of a mirror reflectivity measurement using drones)
  • Mr Divano Blankenberg: MEng Candidate (Hybrid dry cooling retrofit for Bokpoort CSP plant)
  • Mr Nicholas Cato: MEng Candidate (Performance modelling of axial drive and power turbines for a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycle)
  • 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 Cameron Garde: MEng Candidate (Numerical simulation of mitigation strategies for wind-induced performance degradation in natural draft air-cooled condensers (NDACC) for CSP applications)
  • Mr Alexander Greyling: PhD Candidate (Creating a digital representation of the MinwaterCSP facility)
  • Mr Tiaan Groenewald: MEng Candidate (Optimising cleaning schedules for the solar field of Redstone CSP)
  • 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 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 Aluwaine Manyonga: MEng Structured Candidate (Design and Techno-Economic Analysis of a Solar Electric Cooking System with Thermal Energy Storage for Low-Income Households 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)
  • Mr Howard Piwang: PhD Candidate (Addressing energy poverty and reliability challenges in rural clinics in Uganda)
  • 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)
  • Dr Francois Rozon: Postdoctoral Fellow (Renewable energy system design for industrial steam users)
  • Mr Lebogang Sebolai: MEng Candidate (Characterising the Thermo-Mechanical Fatigue and Ratcheting Limits of Thermal Energy Storage Containment Alloys via Multi-Scale Acoustic Monitoring)
  • Ms Leanrey Slater: MEng Candidate (Redesign of molten salt tanks)
  • 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)
  • 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 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)

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