Language
English
About this course
South Africa is highly dependent on fossil fuels – mainly coal – for its electrical energy needs. Coal is a carbon intensive form of energy. Coalfired power stations contribute innumerable tons of CO2 to the atmosphere. In more recent times, a lot of effort, time and money has been put into exploiting South Africa’s abundant energy sources, especially the sun and wind. Harnessing and exploiting renewable energy also stems from two very important factors. Firstly, the possibility of decreasing dependence on coal-fired power stations and thereby reducing the concomitant degradation of the environment and, secondly, the recurrent energy generation problems being experienced nationally. The rationale for developing a skills programme in hydrogen fuel cell systems is to build capacity in the operation and maintenance of hydrogen fuel cell systems. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is a new energy generation technology that will generate power without impacting negatively on the environment. It offers maximum efficiency, high reliability, and minimum pollution. It is one of the technologies needed to both generate low carbon emissions, as well as identifying, planning, and implementing the directions for harnessing the potential of renewable energy sources. No other courses or qualifications in the development of skills in operational management and maintenance of hydrogen fuel cell systems currently exist in South Africa. This will benefit the energy sector. The government is giving much more impetus to the renewable energy sector and hydrogen fuel cell technology practitioners will find gainful employment. Society will benefit in that the carbon footprint will be reduced. The qualified persons from this skills programme will be able to participate and grow the hydrogen economy – be it in the hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing companies in South Africa. This skills programme is part of the start-up of own hydrogen economy support structure services businesses.