Engineering Faculty signs MoU with Chinese partners

As part of the Engineering Faculty’s research strategy linked to National priorities on sustainable development, the Faculty has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Bellville campus with its local and international partners.

As part of the Engineering Faculty’s research strategy linked to National priorities on sustainable development, the Faculty has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Bellville campus with its local and international partners.

Represented at the signing ceremony on 28 September 2010 were staff from the executive management and the Faculty.

The MoU was signed with a Chinese partner; a Tsinghua University owned spin-off called Tsinghua Solar, which is a global leader in solar water heating (SWH) solutions. The Joint MoU also includes Shanduka and Trihelix, the latter being a Beijing-based business development company.

According to the Dean of Engineering Dr Nawaz Mahomed, the Faculty has embarked on an initiative to establish a centre for energy efficient buildings to be situated within the Mechanical Engineering precinct.

“This initiative received a major boost through the signing of the MoU,” said Mahomed. The Joint MoU was developed over the past nine months, culminating in the recent visit to China by SA President Jacob Zuma.

The proposed partnership on solar water heating technology is part of the broader cooperation intent between the two countries in sustainable energy solutions, due to similarities in the energy challenges faced by China and Africa.

Mahomed added: “CPUT’s role in the consortium will be to provide research and technology support to the deployment and localisation of the solar water heating systems in SA. This includes the development and establishment of a new standards paradigm for the continent, based on Chinese models.”

According to him, this will require an intensive technology transfer partnership with Tsinghua Solar and Tsinghua University.

On the day, Mahomed also made a presentation, which highlighted the impact of the SWH initiative on socio-economic development in the country, and the areas of intervention that CPUT will provide in the development of a fully-fledged local solar water heating industry.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga welcomed the guests, saying: “What has happened today is the first major manifestation of one of CPUT’s objectives, which include spearheading the development of research”.

The test and demonstrator facilities will be housed within the centre for energy efficient buildings, and the centre will enjoy the benefit of Chinese experts coming to SA as well as equipment acquired via the consortium. A further essential role is the provision of training and skills development at all levels in this sector.

Support will be harnessed from major stakeholders, including the Central Energy Fund, SA Bureau of Standards, Eskom and local Government, among others.

By Andiswa Dantile

Photo: Prof Mazwi-Tanga with Prof Zhenyi Wu, CEO of Tsinghua Solar.