Author

Samson Mhlanga

Title

March News: Remote Lab Equipment Arrives At NUST

News

The long-awaited remote lab equipment has finally arrived at NUST from South Africa. The main components, including the flat plate collector and the 200L storage tank, mark a significant step toward establishing the solar thermal remote lab. Additional equipment, such as heat meters and pyrometers, is expected to arrive from Germany soon.

Although the procurement process has faced delays, project partners anticipate completing the remote lab by June 2025. Special appreciation goes to the European Union for funding this initiative, which will enable institutions and researchers to conduct experiments remotely. This advancement is crucial in supporting solar thermal research, particularly in a region facing energy supply challenges and striving for greater energy efficiency.

The impact of this initiative is already evident on the 13-14th March 2025, with a high turnout of 64 youths for solar thermal training at the Tshaka Centre—one of four centres supported by the Bulawayo City Council. These centres aim to engage school leavers who are unable to pursue tertiary education, equipping them with valuable skills for the energy sector. This resonates well with Work package 8 and 9 which seeks to expand beyond the tertiary but community leaving no one behind which is central and a transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. 

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