Hydrogen powers South African schools
15 June 2015
Hydrogen fuel cell technology is being used successfully to provide standby power
in some schools in Eastern Cape. The power generated by the fuel cells is used to
support basic energy requirements, for example, charging stations for tablets, fax
machines and computers.
It is part of a pilot project led by the Department of Science and Technology, which
has partnered with the private sector to use hydrogen fuel cell technology in three
schools in Cofimvaba, namely Arthur Mfebe Senior Secondary School, St Marks
Junior Secondary School and Mvuzo Junior Secondary School.
Anglo American Platinum sponsored three platinum-based fuel cell systems,
including installation and ongoing maintenance and operations. Air Products is
supplying the hydrogen fuel requirements, while Clean Energy Investments, a South
African company co-owned by the department and Anglo American Platinum,
commissioned the fuel cells to bring standby power
to the schools.
Air Products conducted feasibility assessments and erected hydrogen storage
facilities according to international standards to supply the fuel cells at the three
schools. All the fuel cell power systems have been operating since September 2014.
Public-private partnerships
The official launch, however, was on 12 June. Science and Technology Minister
Naledi Pandor noted that the Cofimvaba initiative demonstrated that collaboration
between the public and private sectors was essential to improving living conditions.
"Success stories from other countries, like Japan, indicate that active public-private
partnerships are critical in supporting the uptake of emerging technologies. The
knowledge and experience gained from the Cofimvaba pilot project and others
taking place throughout the country will not only promote awareness of the
technology, but will assist in creating a market for technologies that are being
developed
through the Hydrogen South Africa [HySA] programme," Pandor said at
the event.
HySA focuses on the development of high-value hydrogen fuel cell technology
products that promote the beneficiation of the platinum group metals and has three
centres of competence, focusing on catalysis, infrastructure and systems
integration.
Anglo Platinum, together with the Young Engineers and Scientists of Africa (Yesa)
group and the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement
(Saasta), has developed an educational programme that has been rolled out to
schools in the area, teaching pupils about the science of fuel cells. To date, 3 500
schoolchildren from Grade R to Grade 12 at 26 schools in the region have benefited
from this programme.
Improved teaching and learning
Andrew Hinkly, the executive head of marketing of Anglo American Platinum, said:
"This collaboration provides the opportunity to demonstrate not only the technical
ability of platinum-based fuel cells to power rural schools, but also contributes to
the improvement of the quality of teaching and learning in a rural context.
"The education initiative has been an inspiration to learners, enhancing their
aspirations for vocations in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and
innovation. These skills are key to creating a knowledge base to support fuel cell
deployment and, ultimately, a new, high-tech fuel cell industry in South Africa."
Gavin Coetzer, the chief executive of Clean Energy Investments, added: "As
technology is incorporated into the education environment, power stability at
schools is essential. Fuel cell standby power solutions are efficient, reliable, safe
and, most importantly, quiet, ensuring a non-intrusive standby and – potentially –
primary power solution."
Tech4Red
This year, the department, through the Tech4Red (Technology for Rural Education
Development) project,
will install two solar systems and a biogas system, as well
as provide portable rechargeable batteries to pupils in the region who have no
electricity in their homes.
The project is part of the energy working group of Tech4Red that the department is
piloting in the Nciba Circuit in Cofimvaba as a research initiative to assess how
technology can contribute to the improvement of education in the area.
Other components of Tech4Red involve information and communication technology
(ICT), elearning, science and technology, nutrition and agri-teaching, water and
sanitation and health. The ICT component involves providing tablets to teachers and
pupils and ascertaining how this intervention can contribute to improving
mathematics and science learning.
Source: Department of
Science and Technology
Pupils at Mvuzo Secondary School in Cofimvaba, rural Eastern Cape, use tablets. (Image: Department of Science and Technology)
