Energy boost for rural schools
New technology makes light of load-shedding
ALTERNATIVE energy is helping young rural Luphumzo Ntwanambi, 17, of Cofimvaba, to pursue his dream of one day becoming a lawyer or engineer.
Unlike other Eastern Cape village children his age, the Mvuzo Junior Secondary School Grade 9 pupil doesn’t rely on candles to keep on studying nor is he affected by load-shedding.
He has a much higher-tech solution.
Mvuzo, Arthur Mfebe Senior Secondary and St Marks Junior Secondary schools benefit from hydrogen fuel cell technology piloted by the department of science and technology (DST), the Eastern Cape department of education, Anglo American Platinum, Air Products and Clean Energy Investments, a South African company coowned by Anglo American and the Department of Science and Technology.
Three hydrogen fuel cells storage facilities set up at the schools by Air Products have been operational since September.
The systems use hydrogen supplied by the company to produce electricity to recharge tablets and power fax machines and computers.
The project is funded by Anglo American Corporation.
The fuel cells were supplied and commissioned by Clean Energy Investments which manages the system.
Speaking at the official launch in Mvuzo yesterday, Clean Energy Investments business development executive Gavin Coetzer said the cells produced five kilowatts, enough to power the whole school for 140 hours.
“We use a catalyst approach and not combustion. It is very quiet and there is no carbon dioxide produced. Only water is released as a byproduct,” he said.
The three schools, together with 23 others around Cofimvaba, benefit from a wider DST project focused on sanitation, nutrition, renewable energy, water, information communication and technology.
More than 3 500 pupils have been supplied with digital tablets loaded with textbooks and educational apps.
Ntwanambi left government officials, including DST Minister Naledi Pandor and Eastern Cape education MEC Mandla Makupula, speechless as he eloquently narrated the benefits of access to alternative energy.
Ntwanambi later told the Dispatch the hydrogen fuel cells had changed the lives of scholars at the three schools.
“This [tablet] is the new slate. All you have to do is click, and the information comes to you just like that,” he said beaming.
Thrilled parent Nosiphe Mbanga, 45, said: “We missed out on education, but these children have a chance to go far in life.”
Pandor said governmentprivate sector collaboration was essential in improving living conditions in SA.
In 2010 “we asked ourselves if it was possible for technology to improve education in rural schools?”
Universities and research institutions were asked to help find answers which included improved sanitation and nutrition.
Sizwe Nkonde from Air Products said apart from demonstrating their capabilities in hydrogen technologies, they were able to help bring improvement to rural schools.
Anglo American head for marketing and sales (precious metals), Andrew Hinkly said the fuel cells created a local market for the SA platinum industry.
Exposure to the new technologies would also allow aspirant pupils to become scientists and engineers. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za