Sasol today announced a sponsorship of R3 million over the next five years to support solar thermal energy research at Stellenbosch University in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.  The money will be used to appoint a senior researcher in the field to lead the research effort, and to purchase new equipment for the University's Solar Roof Laboratory.  This funding, through Sasol Technology, is in addition to an investment of R4 million by the University to expand the research facilities and to appoint support staff in the solar thermal energy research group. Running of a new risk analyses will always reference the latest question-answer sets in the risk engine.

 
This investment forms part of Sasol's commitment to invest in South African Universities. Sasol's university collaboration project builds on their longstanding relationships with leading South African research universities to partner on research and development projects. Through this collaboration universities will be able to leverage Sasol's research resources, while Sasol will be able to complement their own research efforts and capabilities by leveraging academic excellence to assist with the effective execution of R&D projects.
 
This solar thermal energy research at Stellenbosch University supports Sasol's initiative to investigate opportunities in the field of renewable energies and low carbon electricity. During 2008, Sasol formed a New Energy division with the prime focus to develop business opportunities to reduce the company's green house gas footprint.
 
Southern Africa is blessed with some of the best solar radiation in the world which is why Sasol supports the development of solar energy technologies as a viable renewable energy source for Southern Africa within a carbon constrained future.
 
Attending the event at the Wallenberg Research Centre in Stellenbosch were the Executive Director: Operations and Finance,  Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, the Senior Director: Research and Innovation, Dr Therina Theron, and the Acting Dean of Engineering, Prof Hansie Knoetze, representing Stellenbosch University, and Mr. Henri Loubser and Dr. Anton Vosloo representing Sasol.  At the announcement Dr Theron said: "Stellenbosch University see environmental sustainability, and renewable energy in particular, as a key focus area for our research.  As part of the overarching strategic plan the University showed its commitment towards solar thermal energy research with a substantial investment. We look forward to developing more industry partnerships in this important area of research." 
 
Mr Loubser reiterated Sasol's commitment to renewable energy research saying: "In bridging the gap towards a carbon constrained energy future, renewable energy and specifically solar energy, will play an ever increasing strategic role.  We need to understand this technology environment and be ready with the technology alternatives."
 
Stellenbosch University has established research and teaching expertise spanning a wide spectrum in renewable energy, and in particular in solar thermal energy. The Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering has a long history of involvement with the South African power generation industry, delivering valuable research results that frequently led to improvements in the efficiency of power stations making it a logical partner for Sasol in researching new energy opportunities.
 
Over the last eleven years the Department has focussed on bulk renewable solar power generation. The solar chimney type power plant is an example, where a number of research projects were successfully completed. Prof Detlev Kröger (an A-rated researcher by the NRF) is one of the world's leading experts in dry-air cooling, a key technology for large solar power plants that will most likely be built in the arid Northern Cape Province.  Prof Theo von Backström's expertise in turbines, based on his life-long research in turbo-machinery, augments the thermal expertise in the Department and he played a key role in the research on the optimal configuration of the solar chimney power plant.
 
The Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies at Stellenbosch University was established in 2007 to implement the Postgraduate Programme in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies at Stellenbosch University.  The primary objective of this Programme, funded by the South African National Energy Research Institute is to train scientists and engineers with the required technical expertise to unlock the country's renewable energy resources on the one hand and implement appropriate technology for using sustainable energy on the other. 
 
For more information visit the Centre's website at www.sun.ac.za/crses and the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering at www.mecheng.sun.ac.za/.
 
Media contacts
For Stellenbosch University:
Prof Wikus van Niekerk 
Mobile: + 27 82 256 4131 
wikus@sun.ac.za  |  www.sun.ac.za/crses
 
For Sasol:
Nothemba Noruwana
Group media manager, Sasol Group Corporate Affairs
Direct: +27 11 441 3295  |  Mobile:  +27 82 329 0186
nothemba.noruwana@sasol.com   | www.sasol.com