Promoting equitable, low carbon, clean energy development in urban South Africa and Africa

WORK AREAS

Our Mission

Sustainable Energy Africa promotes equitable, low carbon, clean energy development in urban South Africa and Africa. Through our work we promote energy efficiency, the transition to more sustainable energies such as solar and wind power and access to safe and affordable energy services for all. We do this through research, capacity building, policy engagement and information dissemination.

Latest Insights

  • African Regulators and Utilities Unite in Cape Town to Accelerate Distributed Generation

    From 22–26 June 2026, over 70 energy regulators, utility representatives, and energy practitioners from 14 African countries gathered in Cape Town for a five-day technical workshop. The workshop focused on strengthening the regulatory and utility frameworks needed to accelerate the adoption of distributed generation/embedded generation (DG/EG) across the continent.

  • Supporting South Africa’s Urban Climate and Energy Transition

    The energy transition is often spoken about in ambitious. But ultimately it is about cities trying to implement plans, municipalities grappling with rising costs, and communities asking a simple question: what does this mean for us?

  • Net-Billing Rules are Empowering Prosumers & Distributors

    The new Net-Billing Rules empower licensed distributors, through clear pricing principles, to set fair tariffs and terms for prosumers to feed excess power back into the grid, while balancing the interests of both parties.

Recent Projects

  • Inclusive Energy Models in South African Municipalities

    SEA's role in this project explored the challenges of affordable electricity service delivery and established an evidence base to equip government to review current policies related to electricity access and explore how to mitigate the potentially negative impacts of renewable energy development on the sustainability of basic electricity access across the country.  

  • City of Johannesburg Climate Action Plan Review

    The project aims to strengthen the City of Johannesburg’s capacity to deliver evidence-based, inclusive and accountable climate action by supporting the review, update and implementation of its Climate Action Plan. Through improved greenhouse gas inventories, enhanced climate risk and vulnerability data, and a robust stakeholder engagement process, the initiative seeks to guide more effective planning and investment, strengthen coordination across departments and sectors, and accelerate progress toward a fair, low-carbon and climate-resilient future for all who call Johannesburg home.

  • Rebuilding the Grid from the Bottom Up

    This project will build capacity and consensus amongst sector leaders, through evidence and conversation, for clear electricity sector reform policy direction required to unlock renewable energy and related emissions reduction.