Due to its climate, the northern region of South Africa is ideally suited to the use of solar energy. However this free source of renewable energy is frequently not used at all.

In this project we plan to use modern electronic measuring equipment to evaluate both commercial and homemade solar powered devices. These include solar cookers, solar water heaters and photovoltaic cells.

The aim is to find cheap but effective methods to make use of solar energy to improve the living standards of rural communities.

Sub-project
In order to expose students a wider range of physics, we also plan a number of smaller projects. Currently planned projects include heat engines, radioactivity, electron microscopy, semiconductors & electronics.

• Mr. Walter Meyer
• Dr. Nic van der Berg