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21 May 2018 Photo Naledi Posholi
Could wave power be an answer to SAs electricity crisis
Attending a recent guest lecture, were from the left: Prof Marian Tredoux UFS Department of Geology, Prof Stoffel Fourie fromWalter Sisulu University, and Thoriso Lekoetje a third-year UFS Geology student.

South Africa has a 2800-km long coastline with high wave energy potential that can generate electricity. Presenting a lecture at the UFS Department of Geology, Prof Stoffel Fourie discussed wave power as a possible solution to the country’s electricity needs. Prof Fourie is a geophysicist and the chairperson of research and development in the faculty of engineering at Walter Sisulu University.

Power at any time
Wave power is a renewable and sustainable resource. “It can provide continuous base load power because wave energy systems do not suffer from ‘time of day’ issues as other renewable energy options. This means that it can generate power at any time of the day,” said Prof Fourie. 
Discussed also was the wave power advantages and disadvantages. 

Wave energy advantages
• Wave energy is a reliable renewable energy resource;

• Reduces dependency on fossil fuels;

• Wave energy is predictable and consistent;

• Generates little or no pollution to the environment compared to other energy resources; and

• Presents no barriers or difficulty to migrating fish and aquatic animals.

Wave energy disadvantages
• Wave energy conversion devices are location dependent, thus limiting possible sites where they can be implemented;

• Offshore wave energy devices can be a threat to shipping as they are too small to detect by radar; and

• High capital investment required for start-up costs, construction and maintenance.

“Looking at both advantages and disadvantages, there is no doubt that South Africa can use this method to harvest energy. With the right investment and political buy-in, wave power could provide a continuous supply of energy and contribute to all South Africa’s electricity needs,” Prof Fourie said.

News Archive

UFS assists Oranje with science education
2006-11-07

The Research Institute for Education Planning (RIEP) at the University of the Free State (UFS) is in the process of establishing a TRAC laboratory at the Oranje Secondary School for Girls. The laboratory will comprise of nine (9) computer stations and each station is equipped with a series of apparatus which, with the help of specialised software, will be used as an aid in the science class. The laboratory will assist learners in the understanding and practicing of science on an outcome based manner. 
 
 

Here are left, back: Prof Jack van der Linde (Director: RIEP), Mr Christiaan Fourie (Science teacher at the school), Prof Hendrik Swart (Head of the UFS Department of Physics and management member of the school) and Mr Cobus van Breda (Researcher at RIEP); front: Bernadette du Toit, Anmari Reynders, Anél-Mari Swart and Mavis Motingoe, all grade 11 learners.

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