Energy professionals meet for valuable networking

Mr Kabelo Mamadisa; Ms Vhukhudo Matidza; Mr Robert MacPherson with his award; Ms Tintswalo Mabuza; and Mr Hanyani Makhuvele

Selina Rapulane

The Vaal University of Technology Southern Gauteng Science and Technology Park’ s Energy Optimisation Unit (EOU) attended the 13th annual Southern African Energy Efficiency Confederation Conference (SAEEC) from Tuesday, 13- Wednesday, 14 November 2018, at Emperor’s Palace.

The event serves the energy management, environmental, facilities building, energy engineering, cogeneration, power generation and efficiency improvement industries.

The theme for the conference was: Energy efficiency for sustainable growth and prosperity.

The Energy Optimisation Unit is a department that offers services such as: TRNSYS (a software tool used in renewable energy engineering and building modelling for simulating solar systems, alternative energy, green buildings, and electrical power generation design) simulation, combined heat and power technology and training on TRNSYS as a simulation tool, energy audits and CHP technology (design and maintenance).

One member of the EOU, Mr Kabelo Mamadisa: Junior Technician, said: “Engaging with energy sector stakeholders in networking sessions is a crucial aspect for marketing the Energy Optimisation Unit for potential future clients and collaboration with other organisations. It is valuable for the EOU to attempt to build new partnerships.”

He further mentioned that, in the workshops that he attended, he observed that the topics being discussed are in the scope of what the EOU does: “The workshops were, in my view, useful for demonstrating the projects done by the presenters or organisations and to clarify to the audience their objectives. The EOU used this opportunity to initiate academic papers that will target energy engineering in industries”.

There was a genuine interest to collaborate with the EOU on energy engineering projects and those at the exhibition stand were inundated with questions about the unit’s capabilities and possible project work. This was an ideal platform to obtain ultimate visibility and showcase the EOU.

Not only did the team manage to engage with other stakeholders and showcase their unit, but they also came home in a celebratory mode as Mr Robert MacPherson: Acting Technology Station Manager got an award for being Best Student in The International Presented Course for certified Energy Auditors by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). The award was based on the results of all the candidates who wrote the certified energy auditor exams in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He said: “This award confirms our competence in the energy field and also emphasises the fact that the EOU have the ability to assist and advise the VUT on pressuring energy matters regarding the campus audit.”

The Unit plans to keep doing their best to put VUT on the map among organisations and companies that aid people to use energy efficiently.

The SAEEC is one of 82 chapters of the AEE. The SAEEC supports the AEE’s mission to promote the scientific and educational interests of those engaged in the energy industry and to foster action for sustainable development. The SAEEC is committed to increasing energy efficiency awareness in its region by encompassing the dynamic fields of energy engineering and energy management, renewable and alternative energy, power generation, energy services, sustainability and all related areas.