Sandia Energy > Programs > Renewable Energy > Concentrating Solar Power > Concentrating Solar Power Staff > Henk Laubscher Henk Laubscher R&D, Mechanical Engineering Biography Henk Laubscher is a young and creative mechanical engineer with a strong practical background and a passion for sustainability. His field of expertise is solar thermal energy and he holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering (thermal energy storage) that he obtained at Stellenbosch University, South Africa in 2017. He has industry experience in the construction and commissioning of a 100 MW CSP parabolic trough plant, which provides him with the insights of large system integration. He enjoys working with a team of people and can seamlessly take the role of leader as well as team player. He believes that good interpersonal relationships and communication, combined with a positive can-do attitude results in success. He joined Sandia National Laboratories in April of 2019 and is currently working at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) in Albuquerque, NM. Henk applies his logical reasoning skills to solve engineering problems at the simplest way required to solve the problem. Education Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Stellenbosch University, 2014 Master of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Stellenbosch University, 2017 Research Interests Thermal energy storage High temperature fluids (up to 1000 °C) Sustainability Concentrated Solar Power Renewable energy Publications Laubscher, H. F., T. W. von Backström, F. Dinter, “Development and design of an experimental facility for cost effective thermal rock bed storage systems.“ SASEC 2016, 4th Southern African Solar Energy Conference, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Oct. 31– Nov. 2, 2016. Elsayed, F., H. F. Laubscher, K. Allen, F. Dinter, F. “Combined mechanical and thermal loading of a hot air packed rock bed: A test rig for thermal energy storage.“ SASEC 2016, 4th Southern African Solar Energy Conference, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Oct. 31–Nov. 2, 2016. Guerreiro, L., F. Dinter, H. F. Laubscher, K. Allen, F. Elsayed, and Pereira M. Collares, “High temperature energy storage in a rock-bed test facility.” SASEC 2016, 4th Southern African Solar Energy Conference, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Oct. 31–Nov. 2, 2016.