By: Qhawekazi Memani – 11 May 2023

At the VUT HV Lab: from right to left, Prof Osifo, Dr Nelana, Mr Djeumen, Mr Adeniyi, Mr Thekiso, Prof Nyamupangedengu and Dr Langa

The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) High Voltage Technology Engineering Research Group of the Department of Electrical Engineering recently hosted the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research Innovation Commercialization and Internationalisation (DVC-RICI), Dr Simphiwe Nelana to share their plans with him.

As part of the visit, the DVC was taken on of tour of the high voltage lab led by the Head of Department (HOD), Professor Cuthbert Nyamupangedengu, accompanied by the Acting Executive Dean for Engineering and Technology, Professor Peter Osifo.

The purpose of the tour was to present the lab to the acting DVC and to engage with him regarding transformation of the lab into a financially self-sustainable High Voltage Technology Centre of Excellence HVTCE). This lab currently hosts at least three doctoral and several masters students that are busy with their research activities.

According to Dr Hendrick Langa, the VUT Research Coordinator in the Department of Electrical Engineering, the increasing dependence of humanity on electricity as the preferable form of energy is undisputable such that the level of dependence on electricity is a proxy measure of extent of human development. “Whether electrical energy is from fossil fuel or renewables, for as long as there is bulk handling of the energy at all levels of the value chain, high voltage technology is the main vehicle for the process,” he said.

He added: “VUT has the best equipped university high voltage lab among all universities in South Africa and the subcontinent, south of the Sahara. It is equipped with multi-million state-of-the-art equipment. The lab is being proposed into the High Voltage Technology Center of Excellence (HTCE) as one of the catalytic projects, part of the ongoing organizational refinement process. The financially self-sustainable business will be in the form of contract research, post-graduate research (masters and doctoral) and ultimately accredited product certification services.”

“My visit to the High Voltage laboratory exposed us to the state-of-the-art equipment that is housed at VUT. We are very proud of the work that is being done and our intentions are to turn this laboratory into a world-class High Voltage Technology Centre of Excellence (HVTCE).” concluded Dr Nelana.