In 2025, Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) celebrates 25 years of advancing equitable, low-carbon development across cities in South Africa and the broader Sub-Saharan region. This milestone marks not only a quarter-century of pioneering work in sustainable energy transitions but also a renewed commitment to shaping a future where African cities are central to driving climate resilience, clean energy innovation, and inclusive development.

When SEA was founded in 2000, the idea that cities could be central to South Africa’s sustainable energy transition was a bold one. Energy was largely viewed as a technical concern, hidden within electricity departments and disconnected from broader urban development priorities.

Emerging from the University of Cape Town’s Energy and Development Research Centre (EDRC), SEA’s founders recognised that energy is produced, distributed, and used, sits at the heart of equitable development. Their work sought to make the energy picture in cities visible, to embed energy thinking into local governance, and to equip municipalities to lead in sustainable energy action. Reflecting on those formative years, SEA founder and technical expert Mark Borchers speaks to the… 

SEA’s early decade focused on laying the groundwork for sustainable energy governance. Through the Sustainable Energy for Environment and Development (SEED) programme, SEA built capacity within municipalities, influenced national housing policy, and introduced the first State of Energy in South African Cities report, a landmark in evidence-based energy planning. These initiatives made SEA a trusted partner to local and national government, helping shape policies that connected energy, urban development, and climate resilience.

The following decade saw SEA transition from pilot projects to systemic change. The establishment of the City Energy Support Unit (CESU) in 2008 marked a pivotal shift, supporting municipalities to embed sustainable energy in operations and strategy. 

Through programmes like SAMSET (Supporting African Municipalities in Sustainable Energy Transitions) and COM-SSA (Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa), SEA expanded its reach beyond South Africa’s borders. Working with city officials, technical experts, and policymakers, SEA supported the development of local energy and emissions data systems, by-laws for energy-efficient buildings, and frameworks for equitable access to clean energy. 

The past five years have been defined by global disruption, from the COVID-19 pandemic to deepening climate and energy crises, but also by unprecedented innovation and opportunity….