First Solar-Powered computer lab in South Africa
By IT News Africa staff reporter, August 8, 2008
Source: ITNewsAfrica.com
http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=856
MEC for Education, Yousuf Gabru, opened the first solar-powered school computer laboratory today. The Khanya Project of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) installed the laboratory at Bernadino Heights Secondary School in Kraaifontein. The task is to install and support technology to enhance teaching and learning in the schools. Scarce energy and power resources and effect of technology on the ecology and the ever-rising cost to consumers of energy and power, makes the launch of the solar powered computer laboratory a significant event.
The important role of technology in society, mirrored by the growing number of schools, which Khanya has placed computer laboratories, place a demand on the country’s overextended electric resources. Khanya began work on this project a year ago. Bernadino Heights an exceptionally well managed school that serves the poor community. The Installation of the project was completed in the period of just one month. Upgrades to the hardware have reduced the power usage to nearly a third of the power used by a traditional Khanya laboratory and this power is then solar generated.
The solar laboratory has been running successfully for three months and according to KHanya no difficulties have been experienced. The focus of this pilot project was determining that solar energy could be used to power a Khanya Lab. This Lab is seen as a stepping stone of energy saving, environment friendly technology installations. It has the potential to be of significance in rural area where power and energy supply is problematic.