The EnergyDrive experiential education mobile unit, which will visit more than 3 000 school learners in Mpumalanga this week, features a solar roof structure, biogas digester, a photovoltaic (PV) panel display unit and a solar hot water display unit and helps to teach learners about these new energy technologies.

The walls of the mobile container are made up of a battery bank, PV components, a television and display cupboards, making it an inspirational and experiential teaching aid.

The initiative is in support of the country’s transition to clean energy and has garnered State-owned Eskom as a key partner alongside industry organisation the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA). The initiative is funded by two key wind industry players, namely Enertrag and Windlab, and will travel across eight communities to teach and demonstrate the benefits of renewable energy technologies.

“The mobility of this unit makes it ideal to reach remote schools and communities to serve as an inspirational and experiential teaching aid to share information about various renewable energy technologies. This allows learners to access information about these technologies and the associated opportunities,” says SAWEA CEO Niveshen Govender.

The “edu-tainer” mobile unit features interactive demonstration models, which assist with understanding a range of renewable technologies, raises awareness of renewable power resources and addresses the important issues associated with climate change, thereby bringing home the impact of environmental concerns that plague our country and the rest of the world, he adds.

“Given our common interest in supporting the just energy transition and its particular focus on the Mpumalanga province, Eskom has joined as an official campaign partner. The majority of the schools that are being visited were recommended by Eskom, in line with their socio-economic development strategic objectives,” notes Govender.

While Mpumalanga is yet to build its first wind farm, it plays a critical role in the country’s energy generation as the current hub for change. As the region prepares for its continued role in electricity generation, albeit now poised as a green energy producer, the just energy transition is critical to ensure all stakeholders are engaged in this process to ensure the many benefits are brought to the citizens of Mpumalanga, he highlights.

Sponsors of the Mpumalanga EnergyDrive include Enertrag, Windlab, The Danish Energy Agency, green economy nonprofit organisation GreenCape and the South African National Energy Development Institute, with Eskom as the key partner.

Govender headed the delegation in the town of Pullenshop, Mpumalanga, to kick off the wind industry’s inaugural experiential renewable energy conversation across local schools in this province. The delegation included the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency project administrator Celeste Dias, Danish Ambassador to South Africa Tobias Elling Rehfeld and Eskom Hendrina power station acting GM Anari van Greuning.