August 2018

The custom-built EnergyDRIVE truck has completed its three-week educational road trip around the country, with Noupoort being the last stop.  Having interacted with thousands of learners located in beneficiary communities surrounding wind farms, the interactive vehicle aims to raise awareness of renewable power resources and climate change.

The last leg of the EnergyDRIVE’s 3 000km road trip was funded by Noupoort Wind Farm. The truck visited Noupoort Gekombineerde Skool and Enoch Mthetho Secondary School. After the school visits, 40 learners from the two high schools had the opportunity to visit Noupoort Wind Farm where they were able to deepen their understanding of renewable power and its benefits. Other wind farms funding part of the Northern Cape road trip visits were Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farm.

Featuring a solar roof structure, biogas digester, photovoltaic panel display unit as well as a solar hot water display unit, the EnergyDRIVE teaches learners about the benefits and uses of renewable energy technologies. By the time it wraps up its visits in the Northern Cape and circles back to KwaZulu Natal, it will have engaged with thousands of learners and over 40 schools across the country.

“The EnergyDRIVE vehicle is ideal for reaching outlying areas such as this, where communities are not easily accessible and learners do not easily have access to information about these technologies,” explained Livhuwani Nwachukwu, Economic Development Manager for Noupoort Wind Farm. “The truck features interactive demonstration models which make it easy for learners to understand a range of renewable technologies,” she added.

The mobile unit departed from Durban on 30th July, making its way through the Eastern and Western Cape before arriving in the Northern Cape on 16th August and circled back to KwaZulu Natal on 19th August, having spent time in host renewable energy communities along the way.

The EnergyDRIVE is a project that was launched in November 2016. Its aim is to raise awareness about climate change and renewable energy. The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) partnered with the Durban University of Technology and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) make this national educational road trip possible.