SARETEC construction begins
BRICKWORK: An architect’s impression of the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre that will be built on the Bellville Campus
Friday, 14 February 2014
Construction on the multi-million Rand South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) on the Bellville Campus is set to get underway soon at the SCANIA site.
SARETEC is a first for the African continent and will train technicians and other staff needed to drive South Africa’s renewable energy sector.
The facility will be a ‘green’ building and will showcase renewable energy and energy-efficient technology, thanks to the Department of Higher Education and Training which has allocated R105 million for the construction.
The project has also received support from the German development agency GIZ under the auspices of the South African German Energy Programme as well as from the South African National Energy Development Institute, Green Cape and Nordex.
MODERN: A rear view of the new facility
CPUT’s Howard Fawkes, who is managing the team responsible for setting up the centre, says they are on track with their plans and hope to complete construction by January 2015.
“We plan to open our doors in early 2015 and will initially focus on technician training for the wind and solar PV industries and also on short courses in the many different fields of renewable energy,” he says.
Fawkes and his team are also concentrating their efforts on developing new qualifications, interim training, industry liaison and obtaining equipment for the facility.
The project includes partnerships with Northlink College and the University of Stellenbosch.
Written by Candes Keating
Email: keatingc@cput.ac.za
Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.
News categories
- Advancement 13
- Alumni 77
- Awards 42
- Campus Life 20
- Community Engagement 158
- Disability Unit 12
- Applied Sciences 93
- Business & Management Sciences 91
- Education 97
- Engineering & the Built Environment 134
- Health & Wellness Sciences 90
- Informatics & Design 69
- Fundani CHED 25
- Funding 19
- GBV 16
- Graduation 80
- HIV/Aids Unit 39
- Know Your CPUT 65
- Libraries 18
- News 3731
- RTIP 286
- Residences (Accommodation) 14
- Staff 631
- SIIP 38
- Students 1290
- Student Health 43
- Sport, Arts & Culture 117
- SRC 4
- Student Affairs 11
- University Leadership 17
- Varsity Shield 17
- Vice-Chancellor 24
- Work-Integrated Learning 21
- THENSA 10
Latest NEWS
Intensive workshop on Machine Learning and Artificial Neural Networks
Monday, 06 July 2026
Read more
