Representatives of Germany and South Africa sit at a long table with national flags on it at a meeting of the South African-German Hydrogen Task Force. © GIZ

South African-German Energy Partnership

Support for bilateral climate and energy partnerships in developing and emerging economies – South Africa

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  • Client

    German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)

  • Country
  • Political sponsors

    More

  • Runtime

    2013 to 2024

  • Involved

    Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  • Products and expertise

    Sustainable infrastructure: water, energy, transport

A group of people, some with cameras and microphones, stand around Minister for Economic Affairs Habeck on his visit to a renewable energy training centre in Cape Town.© South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre

Context

In 2013, South Africa and Germany signed a declaration of intent to found the South African-German Energy Partnership. The Partnership is the main platform for dialogue between the two countries on energy policy.

The aim is to contribute to the global energy transition and improve trade in carbon-free energy sources, technology exchange and the diversification and decarbonisation of supply chains in both countries.

Five members of a delegation from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in protective clothing visit a plant specialising in the CO2-neutral reduction of iron ore in Saldanha Bay, South Africa.
GIZ

Objective

Dialogue between South African and German actors from the fields of politics and business is established and institutionally anchored. The market for renewable energy and energy efficiency has been strengthened and the energy transition is progressing. Both countries are working together on decarbonisation and achieving a climate-neutral energy supply.

Approach

The project organises regular meetings between the two governments. It promotes the exchange of knowledge and economic cooperation, for example through specialist events and business-to-government (B2G) formats.

The South African-German Energy Partnership focuses on several areas, including:

  • Socially just energy transition
  • Transformation of the energy sector, for example through energy efficiency, digitalisation, flexibilisation and energy storage
  • Decarbonisation of relevant industrial sectors, for example on the basis of hydrogen and power-to-X

The project places particular emphasis on the production of energy transition technologies, integrated value creation between the two countries and the promotion of investments from the private sector.

Group photo taken during a hybrid video conference to promote dialogue between renewable energy industry associations in October 2023.© GIZ

Last update: June 2024

Additional information