Racing with the Sun

Despite a climate that is more than suitable for solar energy technology, South Africa is only just starting to install wind and solar farms. From a few hundred million dollars, last year’s investment in renewable energy jumped to $5.7 billion, a surge led by solar power projects and a move to reduce dependency on coal. Even Google has taken a first step investment into Africa’s solar power market, backing the Jasper Power Project, a 96MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant.

Despite some organisations trying for years to use solar technology, it is in the education sector that exciting developments are being made by our future generation of engineers.  One of these is the solar car.

The solar car combines the technology used in the aerospace, bicycle, alternative energy and automotive industries and is either fitted with gauges as seen in conventional cars or wireless telemetry, which allow the driver to monitor the car’s energy consumption, solar energy capture and other parameters.  They rely on photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity. When the sunlight strikes the PV cells, they excite electrons creating an electrical current.

So it is only fitting that RS in South Africa has got involved with students from The University of Johannesburg to sponsor them to take part in the SA Solar Challenge from 27 September to 4 October which will run from Pretoria to Cape Town.

Like RS, the university is committed to encouraging and developing engineering skills.  The chassis and frame of the new car will be made of carbon fibre and RS Components is providing lightweight electronic items and also giving the team access to its 3D printers. This allows rapid prototyping of parts to reduce the time it takes to test various items and ensure everything fits properly. Even the battery pack is 3D printed.

The competition will see 18 teams from around the world compete.