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
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

CPUT’s South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) recently hosted German Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Dr Robert Habeck on a site visit.

Habeck and a delegation of 40 German stakeholders, was on a trip to Namibia and South Africa focused on green hydrogen, renewable energy and skills development.

Habeck’s visit follows a commitment of €10 million in grant funding from the German development bank, KfW. The grant has been earmarked to build a wind tower and solar rooftop at SARETEC premises on CPUT’s Bellville Campus for the training of wind turbine service technicians.

Habeck was particularly interested in how the lives of these skilled artisans was improved as a result of the training they received. SARETEC Director Mokgadi Modise explained that the courses are mostly sponsored as a result of the specialised nature of the training, and as such students who are accepted for a place are well-resourced with a stipend, transport and other associated costs. She further added that the courses covered by the Sector Education Training Authorities also include regulated stipends.

CPUT Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo thanked the German audience for their government’s continued support of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition.

“We appreciate the support, and we understand that everything you appreciate also appreciates. You are helping us to build capacity for solar, wind and wave energy among others and we assure you that every cent is accounted for, and we will continue creating futures in the renewable energy sector,” he says.

Habeck also engaged directly with students who are currently completing the seven-month wind turbine service technician course and deployed at wind farms. One of those students was Amanda Shayi, who was previously an Eskom electrical technician.

She told Habeck that the course had challenged her and encouraged her to put fears of heights aside as she worked in completely different environments.

Written by Lauren Kansley
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.