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06 June 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Rian Horn
Solar Panels at UFS Qwaqwa Campus
Revolutionising electricity with sun power: Solar panels at the Qwaqwa Campus.

Over the past few years the University of the Free State (UFS) has been planting panels, now the time has come to reap. Solar farms produced a return on investment in the form of R1.4 million in savings as a result of photovoltaics (PV) between January and March 2019. Nicolaas Esterhuysen, an electrical engineer at the Department of University Estates also reported a 2.34% decline in electricity usage between 2013 and 2018. 

Solar panels are the future 

According to Esterhuysen, the solution to a power crisis lies in “either becoming more energy efficient or generating our own at a cheaper cost”. All campuses have managed to save a total of R5.4 million in 2018 through producing our own power (solar PV) and actively managing the instantaneous load demand with building management system (BMS) software.

Overall, ground-mounted PV installations at all campuses contribute 2609 kilowattpeak (kWp) under standard conditions. The Bloemfontein Campus accounts for 979kWp of that amount while the South Campus generates 762kWp, with the Qwaqwa Campus producing 748kWp, and the Paradys experimental farm bringing in 120kWp to the grand total (to be commissioned June 2019).

Rooftop PVs generate electricity through the 80kWp Muller Potgieter Building, the 255kWp Bloemfontein Campus computer lab, the 35kWp Qwaqwa Campus computer lab, 135kWp Qwaqwa Campus Mandela Hall, and 416kWp Thakaneng Bridge panels. This is a total of 921kWp. 

Winter is coming with tariff terrors 

A 15.63% electricity tariff increase is projected this year in light of the annual winter adjustments commissioned by Eskom and Centlec. To gear up for the associated spike in power use over this season, University Estates advises the Kovsie community to use energy efficiently. “Think twice before switching on the heating and make sure to switch it off when you leave the office,” advises Esterhuysen.

In addition to generating electricity, saving initiatives such as implementing light-emitting diode (LED) lighting with motion sensors and actively managing demand at peak times have been implemented.

What’s next?

The next step is to rethink dated mechanical installations that are used to heat some of our older buildings. Replacing similar installations across all of the campuses are some of the ways the university intends to escalate energy efficient in future. 

News Archive

Odeion: Organ recital - Jaroslav Tÿma
2006-10-10

Saturday, 14 October 2006
Odeion
19:30
Admission: R60, R40
Enquiries / Bookings
Ninette Pretorius (051 - 401 2504)

Jaroslav Tÿma was born and educated in Prague.  He graduated from the Prague Conservatory and the Academy of the Performing Arts, where he now teaches organ performance and improvisation.  While still a student, he won prizes at several international competitions, including Linz, Prague and Leipzig.  In addition to being a concert organist, he also performs on harpsichord, clavichord and forte piano.  He is known throughout the world for his improvisations, which earned him first prizes at both the Haarlem and Nuremberg competitions.  He has been guest performer at the Prague Spring Festival, Musikfestspiele in Dresden and the Flanders Festival and he continues to concertize in prestigious concert venues in Europe, the United States, South Africa and Japan.  As an advocate of new music, Jaroslav Tÿma performs works by his contemporaries and is also a composer of note.  Through 1990-1993 he performed the complete organ works of J.S. Bach in Prague.  He records for radio, television, and numerous recording companies.  His discography includes over twenty solo recordings, most recently a recording of the Bach Goldberg Variations on both the harpsichord and clavichord.

 Programme

J.S. Bach
Preludium and Fugue in C minor (BWV 546)
Ich ruf zu Dir (from the Orgelbüchlein)

W.A. Mozart
Andante (KV 616)

B. Martinÿ
Vigilie (1959) - completed by Bedrich Janaÿek

J. Tÿma
Improvisasie op gegewe temas

C. Widor
Organ Symphony No. 5 in F Minor
Allegro vivace
Allegro cantabile
Andantino quasi allegretto
Adagio
Toccata

 

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