Skip to content
  • Home
  • Maties Connect
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • #Move4food
  • Contact
  • Convocation
  • Afrikaans
  • Home
  • Maties Connect
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • #Move4food
  • Contact
  • Convocation
  • Afrikaans

Menu

  • English
  • Afrikaans

Stellenbosch University and St Stithians College collaborate on green energy solutions

A delegation from St Stithians College, one of South Africa’s most prestigious schools from Johannesburg, visited Stellenbosch University in July for a working session on finding green energy solutions for the school’s 105 ha campus. Innovus-spinout company GreenX Engineering, which has been instrumental in helping schools in the Western Cape save on their energy bills while providing energy solutions was part of the SU delegation.

Dr. Jason Samuels, managing director of GreenX, said they have been in discussions with St Stithians for some time now working together to find energy-saving solutions. “The College has identified a piece of land on their campus suitable for an alternative energy solution that is able to meet the school’s 3GWh demand .”

Thando Bili, Head of Operations of St Stithians College, said they are excited to collaborate with Stellenbosch University on ways to be less reliant on the Eskom grid and become more sustainable. “We have as many as 8 000 people on campus daily, and this number can grow to as many as 60 000 when we host a festival. It is crucial that we find sustainable energy solutions to also augment our water-saving solutions for our college,” says Bili. He says the College aims to be completely self-sustainable by 2030.

This will not be the first project GreenX worked on with the College. Following an electricity energy and spatial analysis audit, the GreenX team issued an energy performance certificate (EPC) for one part of the college. This is the first time GreenX awarded an EPC to a South African School.. The first of the Colleges’ buildings to get an EPC was the Girls’ College and Girls’ prep sections. They received a B-rating for energy consumption with a 33 kWh/m2.

Last year, GreenX Engineerings’ initiatives helped equip Cloetesville Primary School, in Stellenbosch, with energy-saving technology, ensuring that it became the first school in South Africa to receive an energy performance certificate (EPC). The school received an A-rating for the electrical consumption of the system, with 17 kWh/m2.

“The achievement of the first EPC cements St Stithians commitment to energy efficient solutions and is aligned with the long-term sustainability plan of our College,” said Bili.

According to Dr. Samuels, more energy management and energy efficiency projects are in the pipeline for St Stithians and GreenX.

In the coming months, SU, GreenX, and St Stithians (together with their engineering partner, Madonse Consulting Engineers) will work together on creating a feasible solution for the school, which could include a cost-saving solution for their energy systems such as a potential solar PV and a loadshedding solution that integrates diesel generators and an energy storage system, for instance, batteries.

“Our journey of establishing a PV plant for the College is central to the core business of the day: ensuring the continuity of Teaching and Learning,” said Bili.

Dr. Samuels says he hopes this work is the start of a fantastic energy journey for the College as they pioneer being energy resilient.

GreenX EPC copy.jpg

Caption for photo

In the photo, Thando Bili, Head of Operations of St Stithians College (right), receives the EPC certificate from Jason Samuels, managing director of GreenX Engineering. ​

Media inquiries

Petro Mostert

petromostert@sun.ac.za

M 082 334 6193

More articles

SU loses valued and loyal friend

Maties expert serves as team doctor for Spar Proteas Netball team

FMHS’ child psychiatry expert receives prestigious grants

Once a Matie, Always a Matie
  • Homecoming
    • Homecoming 2025
    • Homecoming 2023
    • Homecoming 2022
    • Homecoming 2020
  • Campaigns
    • 2021
      • Law Faculty Dean’s Fund
      • Covid-19 Relief Funds
      • Masked Masterpieces
      • Thank You
    • 2022
      • #Action4inclusion
      • Bridge The Gap Annual Fund
      • EndGBV
      • Train4Fees
      • #SciMathus
      • Move4Food
    • 2023
      • Breast Cancer Awareness
  • Chapters
    • Global Maties Network
  • Alumni Flagship Programmes
    • Pre-Alumni
    • Swan
    • Young Alumni
  • Events
    • Alumni Engagement Calendar
    • Events
  • News
  • Videos
  • Donate
    • Move4Food
    • Donate
    • Impact Reports
  • Get informed
    • Alumni Clubhouse
    • Contact
    • Get Informed
    • Matie Shop
    • Maties Wine Club
  • Volunteering at SU
  • Visit Sun.ac
  • Home
  • Maties Connect
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • #Move4food
  • Contact
  • Convocation
  • Afrikaans

Stellenbosch
Private Bag X1
Matieland
South Africa

+27(0)21 808 9265
alumni@sun.ac.za

Facebook Linkedin Instagram Twitter

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. View our Privacy Policy

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!