The innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has brought about an innovative solution to the electricity crisis at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Indumiso Campus, in Pietermaritzburg.
DUT issued an urgent statement on the 23rd of November 2022 informing students and staff of the electricity issues that have left the campus in the dark for the past week. As the institution is working on the solution to this problem, the Centre welcomed students and staff members to its newly established solar powered modular pod. The modular pod project was introduced in the year 2021 as a solution to the common load shedding issue in South Africa. After establishing the various challenges that appear as a result of power outage such as disruption of academic and operational activities, the Centre introduced the solar operated modular pod aimed at using energy from the sun to provide electricity to the students and staff of DUT. This is a cost effective, innovative, and indispensable solution to the institution electricity issues.
The availability of this structure allowed students and staff members to charge their devices such as laptops and cell phones and continue their daily academic and operational activities. Through this project the centre has embodied the universities vision statement in being innovative and establishing a state-of-the-art infrastructure that will enable our people to deliver optimally.
innobiz centre manager, Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo was happy to receive feedback from the DUT community on the usefulness of the modular pod and how it has made their lives without electricity bearable.
“We started this project to help the DUT community counteract the effects of load shedding and other electricity crisis that they often face. It is an innovative solution to a long-standing issue that has been a source of distress for the staff and students of DUT, we are happy to see it serving its purpose,” said Ngcobo.
DUT Ecotourism student, Siphiwe Bekwa who had an opportunity to utilize this structure deemed it a “life saver”, stating that through the structure they were able to complete their academic projects and keep in contact with their friends and families.
School of Education Department employee, Minenhle Xulu also applauded the Centre for providing this innovative solution, expressing hopes of a bigger structure that can accommodate more people and allow students to not only charge devices but also do other daily activities such as cooking.
“It is truly an essential solution for the institution, it has really helped us in the past few days and we are grateful to the centre for providing it. We really hope the university can provide a bigger structure that will allow students and staff to carry out other daily activities such as cooking, having access to warm water and access to wireless internet connection,” added Xulu.
The modular pod was built in the Indumiso Campus, behind Block 6.
Pictured: Some of the students accessing the modular pod. (Photographer: Khonzinkosi Magcaba).
Nontethelelo Mzizi
