In line with the Just Energy Transition agenda, to maintain economic growth, sustainability and job creation in the surrounding areas that have been dependent to the coal fired power stations, Eskom chief executive officer, Andre de Ruyter visited the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) on the Bellville campus recently.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo welcomed De Ruyter and Eskom’s General Manager, Mandy Rambharos. Earlier this year, SARETEC, Director, Mokgadi Modise and Acting SARETEC Operations Manager, Hendrick Volschenk had conducted a site visit at the Komati Power Station on 22 April 2022 from which the Eskom team had to also conduct a similar site inspection of the SARETEC on 13 May 2022.

De Ruyter said the visit followed several engagements between Eskom, the SARETEC and the South African Wind Association (SAWEA) on renewable energy options in line with the Just Energy Transition agenda.  De Ruyter said: “Among others is to maintain economic growth, sustainability and job creation in the surrounding areas that have been dependent to the coal fired power stations following the decommissioning phase. Among others, training in the form of reskilling and upskilling of the Eskom workforce, surrounding communities has remained part of the primary objective is to find balance between the decommissioning and just transition phases.”

He shared Eskom’s plan to repurpose the coal fired powered stations for good use while emphasising that the collective has a social responsibility to maintain an enabling environment for economic growth in those areas where the power plants are located to prevent any possibility of creating ghost towns following the decommissioning phase.  De Ruyter said because of SARETEC’s accreditation, institutional capacity it has built over the years and existing skills is better placed to support Eskom and therefore there is no need to reinvent the wheel.

Nhlapo affirmed that CPUT need to increase/ramp-up the marketing of SARETEC as “It is still the best-kept secret to some key and critical stakeholders”. “However, the visit was extremely successful,” Nhlapo said. Reflecting on the potential partnership, the Vice-Chancellor said: “It means that CPUT is going to formally sign a MoA [Memorandum of Agreement] with Eskom. The agreement between the tripartite, SARETEC, South African Wind Energy Association and Eskom on the establishment of Eskom Training Centre as part of the Just Energy Transition which will benefit both the faculty and the institution.”

He said the initiative is mutually beneficial to all the parties. “At a very high-level it is also an opportunity for CPUT as per the Higher Education Act to respond to the needs of the Republic and of the communities we served by contributing to [address] the energy challenges faced by the country.”

Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, Dr David Phaho expressed the positive effect that could also be drawn from other areas that the University had partnered with other institutions of higher learning in the field of research in addition to the renewable energy.

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Prof Marshall Sheldon said the purpose of the visit was to provide the Eskom delegation an opportunity to tour the National Renewable Energy facility. Sheldon shared with Eskom representatives that additional structures are in place such as the SARETEC Management Committee and the Governance Board that provide support and ensure that SARETEC deliver on its commitments.

Sheldon stated that the Faculty’s Vision 2030 is to be a leading faculty in Engineering and the Built Environment that advances knowledge through Science, Technology, and Innovation for the benefit of society. “The mission is to be a self-sustaining faculty that is responsive and relevant; environmentally conscious; renowned for its innovation in teaching and learning, research, and technological development; and produces graduates that contribute to society,” Sheldon continued.

“This potential partnership between SARETEC and Eskom will contribute to the Faculty’s vision and mission in that that outcome will positively impact on the society, communities, the economy and the environment.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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In a ground-breaking moment, the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) and Eskom have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to formalise the collaboration to establish a renewable energy training centre at Komati Power Station, to support the implementation of the Eskom Just Energy Transition (JET) Strategy.

In his opening address, Dr David Phaho, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, said Eskom and SARETEC were to sign a Memorandum of Agreement to formalise the collaboration to establish a renewable energy training centre at Komati Power Station, in support of the implementation of the Eskom Just Energy Transition.

Phaho said the importance of this MoA for South Africa cannot be over-emphasised. “Underpinning South Africa’s inevitable leapfrog to a reduced carbon energy future will be strategies to develop not only the necessary skills to support our renewable energy agenda but also provide alternative employment to South Africans who are involved in the coal industry value chain which has been the bedrock of our economy since the dawn of the industrial age.

In a joint statement, the two parties indicated that Eskom has developed a comprehensive JET strategy, which places equal importance on the ‘transition to lower carbon technologies,’ and the ability to do so in a manner that is ‘just’. In support of this strategy, Eskom has a pipeline of clean energy projects at various stages of development and recognises that there is a dire lack of skills along the value chain.

Speaking at the event, Eskom Chief Executive Officer, André De Ruyter, said the purpose of this venture was to educate, reskill and upskill Eskom’s Komati Power Station staff and qualifying beneficiaries from the surrounding communities in the Mpumalanga region. “It’s all about empowering the community,” said De Ruyter.

This is in line with Eskom’s Just Energy Transition drive and SARETEC’s vision to ensure a pipeline of local skills responding to economic needs and readiness for the inevitable transition.

He said the repurposing of power stations like Komati Power Station was not about ‘destroying jobs but to create jobs”. De Ruyter said that when they scouted for a suitable facility to handle the training, there was really only one option, and that was CPUT.

“We estimate that 300 000 jobs could be created thanks to the transition to renewable energy but of course these are skilled jobs and so that is why it is so important that we engage with a reputable education institution like CPUT to ensure that we can reskill these people who are currently working in the coal value chain to work in renewable energy,” he says.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said the collaboration represents taking the partnership between Eskom and CPUT to a different historic level: (buttressing Focus Area 6): Smart Engagement and strong links with quintuple helix partners. “It represents the formalisation in the form of the MoU which makes explicit reference to roles and responsibilities of each party. It represents contribution to addressing the energy imbroglio in our country – putting to bed hesitancy around renewable energy.”

Nhlapo added: “We are excited about being part of the repurposing of the power stations in ways that support low-carbon footprint, enterprise development and sustainable job creation.

“What is even more exciting is the fact [that] the primary objective is to upskill and reskill the Eskom staff and the surrounding communities on renewable energy skills which among others include battery energy storage, microgrid utilities and a myriad of soft skills.” Nhlapo said that the current electricity challenges in the country are for all of us to provide solutions as they are not only of Eskom’s making.

Nhlapo added that the Institution is looking forward to the signing of the funding agreement to follow at Komati Power Station on 23 September 2022.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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