The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has partnered with the Durban University of Technology and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to teach learners about the benefits and uses of renewable energy technologies.
An educational container , known as the EnergyDrive truck has been making its rounds nationally and recently took to the Eastern Cape to expand its engagement.
The EnergyDrive truck is a custom-built vehicle, that features a solar roof structure, biogas digester, photovoltaic panel display unit, as well as a solar hot water display unit, the EnergyDrive teaches learners about the benefits and uses of renewable energy technologies.
The intiative recently hosted a field trip for learners from Soqaqamba Secondary School, a local Cookhouse high school in the Eastern Cape and will have reached over 2,500 high school learners across the country by the end of the month.
“The container features attractive interactive demonstration models which assist with understanding a range of renewable technologies, raises awareness of renewable power resources as well as addressing the important issues associated with climate change, bringing home the impact of environmental concerns that plague our country and the rest of the world,”
explained Sizile Mabaso, chief community operations officer for Cookhouse Wind Farm.
The Eastern Cape is home to more wind farms than any other province, making it an ideal first destination on the EnergyDrive’s route and the mobility of this custom-built vehicle makes it ideal to reach high schools situated within wind farm beneficiary communities. These communities are often located in areas that are not easily accessible and learners do not easily have access to information about these technologies.
The EnergyDrive is now heading to Cape Town, where the vehicle will be exhibited at the WindAc Africa student workshop and at SARETEC, demonstrating the use of renewable energy technologies and promoting skills development options in renewable power, before arriving at the Windaba conference.
The mobile unit will then depart for visits along the West Coast, make its way to the Northern Cape before circling back to KwaZulu-Natal on 24 November.
