Dosent / Lecturer:
Prof Wikus van Niekerk
Fakulteit / Faculty:
Engineering
Email:
wikus@sun.ac.za
Tel:
+27 21 808 4251
Office:
K416
Departement / Department:
Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Afdeling / Division:
Design & Mechatronics / Mechanics / Thermo fluids / Renewable Energy
Navorsingsarea / Area of Research:
Renewable Energy, focussing on Ocean Energy
Algemene beskrywing van navorsingsveld:
General description of research area:
South Africa is blessed with a variety of renewable energy resources including solar, wind and ocean energy. In
particular do we have a well-recognised wave energy resource along the west and south coasts as well as the
Agulhas Ocean current off the east coast. Stellenbosch University has a long history of successful research in ocean
energy as well as some unique test facilities including a towing tank and wave flumes to support advanced test and
development activities.
At this time the research focus is to determine suitable sites for the deployment of wave energy converters along
the South African coast, both established technology from abroad as well as our own Stellenbosch Wave Energy
Converter, or SWEC. Understanding the local wave energy resource, bathymetry, environmental and legal
challenges will be key aspects to research in this regard. In addition the available energy in the Agulhas Ocean
current is currently being investigated to determine the potential of this resource to provide South Africa with
sustainable electricity. It is required to determine the most suitable technology to extract the energy from the
current and convert it to electricity.
1. Investigate possible locations for the deployment of
wave energy converters along the South African coast.
MEng
(Structured)
MEng
(Research)
X
X
PhD
Funding
(amount of bursaries
/degree eg. 2x PhD)
2. Investigate the current status of wave energy converters
in the world and assess the Technology Readiness Levels
X
(TRLs) of each.
3. Investigate the most suitable conversion technology to
extract energy from the Agulhas Ocean current. Model
X
X
the technology and determine the capacity factors when
deployed in the Agulhas Ocean current.
4. Model the contribution that the various renewable
energy technologies and resources can make to the
X
X
generation of electricity in South Africa. Show how these
resources may supplement the conventional supply.
Spesifieke voorvereistes / Specific requirements:
Students with a background in mechanical, mechatronic, electrical and civil engineering may apply.
The research area is well funded with
bursaries, running and travel expenses
available.
Lys van onderwerpe/List of topics: