Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) promotes equitable, low carbon, clean energy development in urban South Africa and Africa. We do this through research, capacity building, policy engagement and information dissemination.

Sustainable Energy Development

Energy Poverty

Planning and Mobility

Urban Energy Support is an information portal of relevant documents and resources, with an emphasis on practical tools and guides to support the transition towards sustainable local energy development and a low carbon trajectory for the country in the context of global climate change.

What’s new


SEA-SALGA-SACN ENERGY NETWORK MEETING A Sustainable Grid for All - Newsletter piece
In June 2022, the Urban Energy Network held its first in-person event since the Covid-19 lockdown. Themed “A sustainable grid for all” the session aimed to understand what the climate commitments of metros and other municipalities mean in renewable energy development terms and clarify what mandates and mechanisms municipalities can draw on towards contributing to meeting these targets.

City of Johannesburg EV Readiness Support Programme: Phase 2
The Johannesburg Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Programme phase 2, funded by UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions), aims to deepen the capacity of key stakeholders in the City of Johannesburg to accelerate the transition to electric mobility, while also learning from, and sharing learnings with, the City of Cape Town.

Mobilizing Social Movements for Energy Democracy and Sovereignty in South Africa: Towards socially owned renewable energy solutions
The project aims to strengthen social and environmental justice movements for democratic engagement and to partner with municipalities and relevant entities so as to lead to the installation and operation of community-led, socially owned renewable energy.

Supporting Sustainable Energy in South African Municipalities (SSESAM)
Promoting sustainable energy in municipalities, focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency.

City of Johannesburg EV Readiness Support Programme
The primary goal of this project is to build the capacity of City officials in order to be EV ready. EV-readiness requires a deep understanding of the technical abilities of the City to plan for an EV future in terms of the provision of infrastructure and the setting of fair yet attractive tariffs. Therefore, planning for EV uptake within the city requires careful consideration of the technical components of the grid and the business of selling electricity. It also requires to City to determine the applicability of EV for different vehicles and end-uses.

What is the missing piece for building ‘green’?
Despite the emerging business case for ‘green’ or NZC buildings, the perception that such buildings have a higher capital cost with low returns on investment remains a barrier. An initial scoping exercise, in support of the C40 Buildings Programme, highlighted the common concern that ‘green’ or NZC building requirements would financially burden and constrain development, particularly in a time of recession. This prompted the implementing team at Sustainable Energy Africa with the eThekwini advisor for the C40-SEA New Buildings Programme, to explore the question in some detail, hoping to establish an evidence-base of the cost differential between ‘standard specification’ buildings and NZC buildings.

Aiming for Zero-Carbon New Buildings in South African metros
Four of South Africa’s metros – Cape Town, eThekwini, Johannesburg and Tshwane – are working towards the implementation of ambitious policies and innovative programmes that aim for net zero carbon emissions from newly-built buildings by 2050.

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WARNING: Scammers in Durban and Eastern Cape
Please be warned of scammers posing as Sustainable Energy Africa operating in the Durban and Eastern Cape areas. These scammers are accepting payment for the instalment of solar water heaters and other domestic equipment and not returning. Please note that SEA does not sell nor install any equipment. If you have been approached or have any information, please do let us know. Any information to track down these con artists will be useful. Please call Mukta Govan at 021 702 3622.