The Power Systems Research Group (http://grid.sun.ac.za), within Stellenbosch University’s Electrical & Electronic Engineering department, studies the impacts of increasing variable renewable energy generation, energy storage and changing customer behaviour on the traditional electrical power system. Potential research topics cover a wide range of focus areas, including data analytics and forecasting, renewable and storage technology applications, probabilistic load flow methodologies, energy meteorology, electricity markets and techno-financial analyses.
The research activities are ultimately aimed at supporting the system operation, network planning and long-term capacity planning functions within the South African power industry. Strong partnerships with South Africa’s national utility, Eskom, and local municipal utilities support this aim.
What?
Full bursaries of R120k per year for Master’s and R160k per year for PhD studies in Electrical Engineering at Stellenbosch University, on industry-relevant topics. Funding is also available to attend local and international conferences, and for a laptop and research equipment depending on student’s needs and performance.
Who?
Applicants must already hold, or be graduating by early 2025 with a B.Eng or Master’s degree in Engineering, or a Master’s degree related to Energy Meteorology or Economics, and must register as full-time students for the duration of their bursary-funded studies.
When?
The deadline for applications is Monday 13 May 2024. Selected applicants will be contacted within two weeks of the deadline.
How?
Submit CV, study record and pdf of final year B.Eng project / Master’s thesis (if already available) to bbekker@sun.ac.za​

Postgraduate students from Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe who are broadly engaged in research on solar heating, drying and cooling, heat pumps, heat recovery and energy efficiency are invited to apply for funding in support of their research.

Eligible fields for this round of research funding are as follows:

• Potential analysis for solar thermal systems in the health sector, at educational or social institutions and in the tourism sector
• Analysis of measurement data from selected systems from SOLTRAIN demonstration systems
• Renewable Heating and Cooling (solar thermal, solar thermal and heat pump, energy efficiency and heat recovery) in industry and commerce, buildings, health and tourism sector (including country-specific opportunities and challenges)
• The use of solar thermal technologies for heating/drying/cooling in industrial applications
• Documentation and analysis of mass housing programs with mandatory installation of solar water heaters
• Cost-effectiveness and socio-economic impact of renewable heating and cooling in off-grid communities (e.g. in the Four-O Region in Namibia)
• Women in the Renewable Heating and Cooling Sector (opportunities, barriers, policies)
• Gender and Diversity in solar thermal – expanding beyond women in diversifying workforce

In order to apply for financial support, you will first be required to create a SOLTRAIN Student Account on the SOLTRAIN website by going to: https://soltrain.org/users/create-account/student/

Once your account has been created and your email has been verified, you will be able to log in to the website and start the online application process.

All applications need to be submitted by 16 May 2024.

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