Cost-effective renewable energy technologies in universities of South Africa: A case study

Africa and particularly South Africa has an enormous potential for the use of renewable energy, more so, solar energy. Higher institutions of learning in South Africa have the potential to tap into renewable energy technologies to conserve energy, both on small-scale and even large-scale levels. The Centre for Energy and Electric Power (CEEP) at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is committed in its efforts to lead in renewable energy projects. In this paper, we examine renewable energy technologies employed in some institutions of higher learning in South Africa. We also discuss the lighting of the CEEP Testing Centre for Solar Water Heaters in Soshanguve, using Photovoltaic (PV) system.