Waterford embarks on solar farm project
MBABANE – Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa invites investors for talks on energy future.
This is after the international acclaimed school embarked on a solar farm project in its transition to a carbon neutral 2023.
According to the Renewable Energy World, a solar farm is a large collection of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that absorb energy from the sun, convert it into electricity and send that electricity to the power grid for distribution and consumption by customers.
Early last month, Waterford Kamhlaba Principal Jackie Otula announced that they had begun an exercise to raise E50 million for the project.
This initiate, she had said, would, as a strategic move for sustainability, enable the school to migrate off the national grid by mid-2024 and be energy self-sustainable.
SUSTAINABLE
Explaining further the concept of the project Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa Communications and Public Relations Officer Mancoba Mabuza said they were investing in a sustainable future.
“While Waterford Kamhlaba is a non-profit institution, we welcome and encourage the private sector and investors to join us in this transformative journey,” Mabuza said.
Mabuza said the solar farm project was a strategic investment, which enables Waterford Kamhlaba to produce on its own clean energy and achieve financial sustainability.
He also said that they aimed at reducing electricity expenses, while also redirecting those savings to support vital initiatives such as the scholarship programme.
“Your contribution to the solar farm project is a multifaceted investment that not only promotes environmental sustainability, but also indirectly supports educational opportunities for academically gifted students from under-resourced backgrounds through our scholarship programme,” he said.
Kamhlaba said the solar energy project was a start.
“Our array of sustainability infrastructure, from the solar farm to the biodigester, wind turbine, permaculture garden, nature reserve, water treatment plant, composting toilet, and more, serves as living classrooms for our students and an inspiration for the youth of Eswatini,” Mabuza said.
He added that their aim was to cultivate a new generation of environmental sustainability activists, policy advocates and leaders not only in Eswatini but across Africa and the world.
Your support is pivotal in propelling this transformative vision forward.
This project is not just about making our institution energy sustainable; it is a significant stride towards our carbon neutrality goal by 2030.
Already, generous donations are flowing in, and with your support, we are optimistic about the success of this fundraising campaign.
The school said the surplus energy produced through the project would be given back to the community.
Mabuza said beyond the campus boundaries, the neighbouring communities would be allowed to use the energy during the holiday season when schools are closed.
Furthermore, he said the school would donate the surplus energy to neighbourhood care points (NCPs) and orphanages in the surrounding communities.
“Your support directly contributes to this benevolent outreach, fostering a spirit of shared prosperity.
“Your involvement is not just an investment in a solar farm; it’s an investment in a future where education, sustainability, and community thrive together,” Mabuza said.
Eswatini Meteorological Service Director Duduzile Nhlengethwa said the country’s targets for climate change were set by the National Determined Contribution (NDC).
This document was submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It pledges the country’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases emission.
The updated NDC has the country’s intention to adopt an economy-wide Green House Gas (GHG) emissions reduction target of five per cent and potential to increase to 14 per cent
reduction with external financial support in 2030 compared with the baseline scenario.
The MET director said a number of greening of government institutions is expected to start as the resource mobilisation was for the support of the public sector.
ENCOURAGED
He said school and prisons were also some of the institutions. She also encouraged other entities and households to consider utilising solar panels.
“When looking at solar, it is not expensive than what is perceived. It is just that it needs capital or a loan to buy the panels. However when you have serviced the loan, you only remain with only servicing the equipment but not paying monthly bills,” she said adding that the lifetime of solar panels is estimated at 30 years.
Also, the Eswatini Environment Authority (EEA) Environment Information Officer Belusile Mhlanga applauded the Waterford initiative.
Mhlanga said they were promoting the idea of the greening of schools, transformation teaching and learning environment.
She said the Waterford project contributes to carbon neutrality and exposes learners to clean and alternative sources of energy.
“We would like young people who are going to be the economic drivers to be well equipped with information.
Alternative energy is a growing industry,” she said.
Mhlanga said the country has a target to meet by 2050, whereby there should be net zero carbon emissions.
TRANSLATE
She said it were such initiatives that would translate to the national targets, especially if more institutions and people are using the solar panels to generate electricity, adding that the country still imports 80 per cent of its energy from South Africa and its production is what the world is trying to move away from, as they use coal to generate energy.
This idea has also been welcomed by the education stakeholders including the Eswatini Principals Association (EPA) which said would save costs for public schools.
The EPA, General Secretary, Mduduzi Masilela, said given the escalating costs of maintaining schools, electricity prices and intermittent load-shedding, ‘any affordable, clean and reliable energy option was definitely welcomed.’
REMEMBERED
Masilela said it should be remembered that public schools were not profit-making institutions and that the costs, including electricity units crippled schools budgets.
He also said they had discussed similar ideas as EPA, but they were yet to approach the Ministry of Education and Training with their request.
Masilela said for public schools’ solar energy to take off, government ought to give them subventions in order to buy the equipment to set up the solar farms.
He said they did not have the funds or capital to start with, adding that they were of the idea that it could sustain schools.
The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Lot Vilakati said they also encourage the introduction of the syllabus to manufacture solar panels.
“Public schools should emulate Waterford. This will not only benefit the schools but could also assist community members. It is a good initiative and should also be taught in schools,” Vilakati said.