Solar Power
2014 Sasol Solar Challenge
Lights Up South Africa
➲ Sasol Solar Challenge
It all began on Saturday 27 September, with the participants starting off at the CSIR in Pretoria. Seven days later,
ten solar powered cars crossed the finish line in Cape Town.
D
elft University’s Nuon Solar Team
from the Netherlands clinched
the title as the winners of the
competition. The team clocked
an impressive total distance
of 4 227.8km, nearly 1 500km
more than their closest
competitor. The Anadolu Solar
Team from Turkey came in
second, whilst third place
was secured by Team UKZN.
Following closely in fourth
position was North West
University, with the University
of Johannesburg (UJ) team
clinching fifth spot. Maragon
Private School held their own
against participating university
teams, with an impressive sixth
place.
“This exciting challenge has
brought the world’s leading
minds in the field of solar
technology together and the
final results truly showcase the
strides that have been made in
the development of innovative
technology,” says Winstone
Jordaan, Sasol Solar Challenge
director. The technology and
innovation award went to UJ.
“This team took brave steps to
rather build a smaller car with
more technologically advanced
solar panels. While they had
their share of challenges, we
applaud the bravery and initiative taken
to put this te chnology to the test,” notes
Jordaan.
➲ Nuon Solar Team
The Sasol Solar Challenge also
incorporated an education programme
involving nearly 200 schools on the route.
Learners received an education
kit which explained how solar
powered vehicles work and
materials that enabled them to
build their own model solar car.
Activations at towns along the
route were used as a platform
for primary school learners to
experience the fun side of solar
energy, seeing its application
in the real world. “We believe
it is important for South Africa
to be part of developing future
technologies to benefit the world
over. While the purpose of the
event is to promote research
into sustainable transport and
showcase technologies - our
underlying goal is to use the
event to spark the interest of
young people and particularly
school learners in key educational
subjects,” says Wrenelle Stander,
Sasol senior vice president:
Public and Regulatory Affairs.
➲ Fay Hoosain, senior vice president at Sasol and minister of
Science and Technology Naledi Pandor signal the start of the 2014
Sasol Solar Challenge
| words in action
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november 2014
“By showing learners how the
application of mathematics and
science can be fun and involving,
we aim to dispel the notion that
these subjects are difficult and
boring but that they in fact open
endless exciting possibilities for
their future,” she adds.