Areas of cooperation include:
- Long-term energy planning and modeling
- Integration of renewable energy into the energy system
- 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. An important aspect of the cooperation is the Just Energy Transition (JET), meaning that a green transition must be socially equitable and create jobs, not eliminate them, particularly in regions where the economy historically has been reliant on the coal industry.
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 Mineral Resources and Energy, the Independent Power Producers Office, and the state-owned utility company Eskom and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.
As part of the cooperation, an energy advisor is based at the Danish Embassy in Pretoria and a long-term advisor at the state-owned utility company Eskom. They act as a link between the South African partners and the Danish Energy Agency.