ENERGY TRANSITION DIALOGUES JULY- OCTOBER 2022

The energy transition is critical to South Africa’s decarbonisation journey: 77% of South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions are from energy – either electricity, heat or transport used by industry and households with 86% of SA’s electricity comes from coal fired power stations.

To enable the energy transition, electricity planning and governance need to be brought in line with rapidly changing technology options and an economically feasible emissions trajectory.

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has embarked on a process to update the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, and, in parallel with this process, the Presidential Climate Commission will be convening a series of public debates on South Africa's evolving energy mix, focusing on the electricity system.

Together with a series of policy briefs commissioned in collaboration with the New Climate Economy (affiliated with the World Resources Institute), these dialogues will form the basis for the PCC’s recommendations on an Energy Transition Plan for South Africa, which will serve as an input into the DMRE IRP process.

The policy briefs will cover a review of electricity system modelling studies, a comprehensive legal review for energy investment, and a review of the impact of air quality standards for the future of the energy mix.

A panel of experts will help frame this conversation and kick off the dialogue series, introducing some of the key topics we will address between now and end November.

The first session on 14th July will frame the challenge for South Africa address pertinent questions like how facilitate a balance of electricity demand and supply that supports climate-compatible economic development?

Register here for the inaugural dialogue on the 14^{th of} July 2022 at 14:00 :

https://climatecommission-org-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Aydg81nTTZ2_KSZZyQ-BDg

FORTHCOMING DIALOGUES IN THE SERIES ELECTRICITY SYSTEM RELIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY - 4 August How do we ensure grid stability through a dynamic transition with rapid technological change? What are the grid cost and other implications of the planned pace and scale of renewable energy rollout? How do we avoid being locked into sub-optimal technology options in the context of all this change? Register here: https://climatecommission-org-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LW16hwGUTg2mQu-nZRm_LQ ENERGY TRANSITION FINANCE - 25 August How will we fund the transformation of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution? What financial instruments do we need and what is the role of international finance? How do we allocate and govern resources? Register here: https://climatecommission-org-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_20nwXHsYTbCni73sp45uVg ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY STRUCTURE - 15 September How will the electricity industry be structured to facilitate the pace and scale of investment needed for the transition? How will different actors (like Eskom and municipalities) be impacted as the electricity system evolves? How should Eskom’s debt be managed? Register here: https://climatecommission-org-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eNRaendRQLe61fWcDTlTfQ JOBS AND SKILLS FOR THE JUST TRANSITION - 6 October What are the different scenarios for energy job creation produced through various modelling exercises? What is required to ensure that modelled employment materialises (reskilling, investment, policy certainty)? Can green jobs be created in areas impacted by the coal phase-out? Register here: https://climatecommission-org-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ral46SFfRA63OBXK5rApKQ THE PACE OF COAL CLOSURE - 27 October 2022 Which different scenarios have been investigated for the closure of coal power plants? What are the different implications for job losses, job creation and climate finance in these different scenarios? To manage different transition paces, what measures must be put in place, and over what timeline? Register here: https://climatecommission-org-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FmUq3FzQQa69xfbJPrjJWg These dialogues will gather stakeholder input and work through the most robust available evidence with social partners. Conclusions and recommendations will be developed in a transparent and participatory manner, culminating in a public stakeholder synthesis workshop on 24th November. The results of this public energy transition planning process will be communicated to government decision-makers in the Energy Transition Plan for South Africa