Areas of cooperation
- Long-term energy planning and modelling
- Integration of renewable energy into the energy system
- Advising on liberalisation of the electricity sector
- Mapping of wind resources
South Africa’s energy transition - and how Danish experiences can contribute to its green transition
South Africa has a strategy for a more socially just energy sector by 2030, which aims to provide stable energy at competitive prices. The strategy includes a significant increase in renewable energy compared to the current South African energy mix mainly based on coal.
The Danish energy model is based on more than 50 years of experience in restructuring the energy system with ambitious political objectives for renewable energy. The Danish green transition demonstrates that it is possible to combine economic growth with a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions, through a liberalisation of the energy sector. An important aspect to the green transition in South Africa is the Just Energy Transition (JET), meaning that a green transition should create jobs, not eliminate them. That is an underlying premise of this cooperation.
Cooperation between Danish and South African authorities
The Danish-South African energy cooperation is led by the Danish Energy Agency in collaboration with The Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, the Danish Embassy in Pretoria and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. The South African partners include the Department of Electricity and Energy, the Independent Power Producers Office, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa and the state-owned utility company Eskom including the National Transmission Company of South Africa.
As part of the cooperation, an energy advisor is based at the Danish Embassy in Pretoria. Long-term advisors are based at partnering South African institutions . All advisors act as a link between the South African partners and the Danish Energy Agency.