The Department of Energy is responsible for ensuring the exploration, development, processing, utilisation and management of South Africa’s mineral and energy resources. As the country’s economy continues to grow, energy is increasingly becoming a key focus.
The Electricity and Nuclear Branch is responsible for electricity and nuclear-energy affairs, while the Hydrocarbons and Energy Planning Branch is responsible for coal, gas, liquid fuels, energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy planning, including the energy database.
South African Energy Efficiency Overview
The South African Government developed and published the post-2015 National Energy Efficiency Strategy setting a vision to “promote energy efficiency as the “first fuel‟ in driving balanced, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable economic growth, boosting job creation and leading technological innovation across the region.” The strategy further lists the following expected 2030 impacts (reduction in final energy consumption) from 2015:
- Economy Wide – 29%;
- Industry Sector – 15%;
- Public & Commercial Sector – 37%;
- Agriculture Sector – 30%;
- Transport Sector – 39%.
Clean Energy Directorate
Within the Department of Energy, the Energy Efficiency sub-programme falls within the Clean Energy Programme. The mission of the energy efficiency sub-programme is to develop measures to promote energy saving, reduce the negative impact of energy use on the environment, reduce energy costs to the economy, contribute towards sustainable development, and achieve a national energy policy.
The sub-programme’s vision is to optimise energy sector development through efficient utilisation, production, and consumption of energy resource.
The mission of the Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Directorate is to develop measures to promote energy saving, reduce the negative impact of energy use on the environment, reduce energy costs to the economy, contribute towards sustainable development, and to achieve a national energy policy.
Objectives of the Directorate
Promote and develop energy efficiency practices, norms and standards in different energy sectors, including industries, commercial buildings, households, transport and agriculture;
Develop energy efficiency policies, strategy and guidelines;
Facilitate information awareness and capacity building campaigns on energy efficiency and environmental issues;
Promote energy for sustainable development;
Mitigate negative impact of energy utilization on environment;
Promote energy efficiency technologies, clean energy technologies and environmentally sound energy technologies;
Promote and facilitate international collaboration and cooperation; and
Ensure the Department of Energy`s participation at international forums on energy efficiency and the environment, including the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), the Kyoto protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
