How SU is greening the earth
The Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies was allocated
to Stellenbosch University because of the long involvement of Maties in
research projects on renewable energy such as solar power stations,
wind turbines and biofuels, believes director Prof Wikus van Niekerk.
This has once again confirmed at the national level with the allocation
of a Senior Chair in Energy Research: Biofuels and other Clean
Alternative Fuels to microbiologist Prof Emile van Zyl. He is a world
leader in the production of enzymes in recombinant baker's yeast that
hydrolyse plant material and convert the sugars that are released to
bio-ethanol.
The chair, one of the first three similar initiatives at local
universities, is sponsored by the South African National Energy
Research Institute (Saneri) to the tune of R2 million per year over the
next five years.
The postgraduate Biofuel Research Programme (BRP) will train scientists
and bio-engineers, develop new technology, particularly in the field of
bio-ethanol, and adapt new and existing technology for local conditions.
The programme is directed jointly by Stellenbosch University's
Department of Microbiology (Prof van Zyl and Dr Marinda Bloom) and the
Department of Process Engineering (Prof Hansie Knoetze and Dr Johann
Görgens), and the University of Cape Town's Department of Chemical
Engineering.
Prof Hansie Knoetze and Dr Johann Görgens of the Department of Process
Engineering are already developing thermal and biological processes to
convert lignocellulose and starchy raw materials into biofuel. Thanks
to process modelling they can do research on how the combination of
biofuel production together with other valuable chemicals can ensure
greater profit margins.
Together with their peers Prof Leon Lorenzen and Mr Johan van der Spuy
of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Process Engineering is
developing a biofuel testing facility that will include a mixing and
analytical testing facility as well as a biofuel engine testing
facility.
The Department of Forestry and Wood Science is currently undertaking a
socio-economic survey of the potential of biofuel production to replace
traditional forestry activities in the Eastern Cape. Various projects
on the sustainable provision of biomass for conversion to renewable
biofuels were recently completely with other departments of the Faculty
of AgriSciences.
However, researchers from SU are not only involved in the field of biofuel.
For the past seven years, the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic
Engineering has been closely involved in the development of large-scale
renewable solar energy projects, such as the solar chimney project of
Prof Detlev Kröger.
Prof Theo von Backström and his team are doing research on wind
turbines. Turbines are also being developed to generate energy from
waves and sea currents, while the passive thermal and temperature
regulation of buildings is also receiving attention.
The School of Public Management and Planning is investigating the
potential of integrated sustainable energy solutions for communities,
as well as the affordability and benefits of installing solar roof
panels in mass housing schemes.
The impact of renewable energy technology on the peak energy demand of
Eskom is being investigated by the Department of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering, while Prof Maarten Kamper is doing research on
new permanent magnet generator technology for wind and water turbines
at a sub-10 kW energy level.
At the macro level, the Department of Process Engineering is
investigating strategies by which economies can convert to a
sustainable energy model.
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Photo: Green students - Francois
Rossouw, Adriaan Lombard and Edward Lemmer are doing research on wind
turbines, micro-hydro power systems and wind-electrical water pump
systems respectively.
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