Low carbon energy transition
Public Body Resources
Information and knowledge that supports the low-carbon transition to renewable energy, while protecting vulnerable communities
- 1. Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment
- 2. Environmental Indicators Database
- 3. EGIS - Environmental Screening Tool
- 4. EGIS – South African Renewable Energy Application Database
- 5. EGIS - Protected Areas Register
- 6. National Oceans and Coastal Information Management System
- 7. Municipal Environmental Profiles
- 8. The South African Air Quality Information System
- 9. South African Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting System
- 10. Department of Mineral Resources and Energy – Energy Website
- 11. Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme
- 12. IPP Project Map and Database
- 13. Oil and Gas Application Portal and Exploration Activities map
- 14. Department of Mineral Resources and Energy – Mineral Resources Website
- 15. SAMRAD ONLINE
- 16. National Energy Regulator of South Africa Website
- 17. Energy One Stop Shop Website
- 18. South African Heritage Resources Information System (Archive)
- 19. Eskom Just Energy Transition Office Website
- 20. Eskom Data Portal
- 21. Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency – Green Project Map
This is the home site of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment. The legal mandate of the DFFE is to manage, protect and conserve South Africa’s environment and natural resources. This central DFFE website provides details for each DFFE branch along with relevant documents, including legislation, draft laws, public consultation notices, guidelines, annual reports, and research reports. It also provides links to application forms and permits.
A list of 14 “E-tools” is available on the website. Some of these E-tools are part of the DFFE Environmental Geographical Information System (E-GIS). Further information on selected E-tools is provided in the sections below.
Operator / Owner: Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment
User Notes
- Archives are available.
Training Material (Yes/No): No
https://enviroindicator.environment.gov.za/
The Environmental Indicator’s database houses environmental indicators to help support environmental monitoring and reporting.
These indicators are split across different themes, including atmosphere and climate, biodiversity and ecosystem health, land, inland water, and marine and coastal. Information is drawn from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, and the South African National Biodiversity Institute.
Using the different themes, this webtool generates reports on specific topics, such as South Africa’s carbon dioxide emissions and the state of the air pollution in South Africa’s air quality priority areas, for example. The indicator reports include references for the reader to follow.
Operator / Owner: Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment; South African National Biodiversity Institute
User Notes
- It appears that data are only up to 2022.
Training Material (Yes/No): No. The webtool provides helpful directions.
https://screening.environment.gov.za/screeningtool/index.html#/pages/welcome
The National Web-based Environmental Screening Tool allows a developer (or another user) to study an area for any environmental sensitivity based on site-specific information. For example, the Screening Tool can identify if an industrial development zone or bio-regional plan applies to a location that is identified for development. It can also identify whether specialist studies are required. The Screening Tool generates reports which are used in support of applications for environmental authorisation.
Operator / Owner: Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment
User Notes
- All users are required to agree to the Terms and Conditions before using the Screening Tool.
Training Material (Yes/No): Yes. See Screening Tool Webinar Training (July 2021).
https://egis.environment.gov.za/renewable_energy
This database provides details on all existing applications for environmental authorisation for renewable energy projects in South Africa, including projects that have received environmental authorisation and projects with environmental impact assessments that are still in progress or cancelled. DFFE intends to update and improve this database on a regular basis.
A user can explore the colour-coded database map that provides information for the different technology types, including biomass and biofuels, hydro-electricity and hydro power, concentrated solar power, photovoltaic, wind, and wave power. Site details include the technology type, project name, province and district, project status, application dates and references, and the appointed environmental assessment practitioner.
Operator / Owner: Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; Centre of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies.
User Notes
- See links to data custodians / managers.
- See Strategic Transmission Corridors for the 11 national Renewable Energy Development Zones.
- Links to environmental authorisations’ or environmental authorisation application documents are not available.
- Use together with the IPP Project Map and #PowerTracker below.
Training Material (Yes/No): No
According to the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003), The Minister must maintain a register called the Register of Protected Areas.
This interactive mapping tool provides information on legally declared protected areas and data on conservation areas (areas responsibly managed for biodiversity conservation but not legally declared as Protected Areas). By clicking on colour-coded areas, listed details include the name and type of protected area, date of declaration, legal status, size, and a link to the government gazette (if applicable). Examples of protected areas include National Parks, Nature Reserves, Mountain Catchment Areas, World Heritage Sites, and Marine Protected Areas.
Operator / Owner: Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment
User Notes
- A search function for existing protected areas and conservations areas is available, in addition to a current list of protected areas in South Africa.
- See National Land-Cover Datasets up to 2020.
- Use together with the Coastal Viewer below.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
The National Oceans and Coastal Information Management System (OCIMS) for South Africa was developed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment and the Department of Science and Innovation. OCIMS is meant to support a variety of ocean and coastal activities by providing information and decision support to key stakeholders for the day-to-day management of South Africa’s natural resources and heritage. The OCIMS offers eight knowledge-based and interactive tools to support stakeholders and decision-makers. These include:
The Marine Spatial Planning Support Viewer: this shows layers of information such as marine protected areas, ecologically sensitive areas; wastewater discharge points; resource exploration and production, and cumulative impacts.
Coastal Viewer: This mapping tool can be used for protecting sensitive coastal ecosystem and protecting communities that may be affected by coastal activities and processes. In addition to the Marine Spatial Planning Viewer, this provides information on pollution management, including oil spills, climate change vulnerability hotspots, and shipping lanes (including tankers).
Operator / Owner: Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment and the Department of Science and Innovation
User Notes
- For example, by selecting layers of information, a user is able to identify South Africa’s existing Marine Protected Areas and petroleum exploitation wells and petroleum exploration rights that may threaten a Protected Area.
Training Material (Yes/No):
No. A paper on using the OCIMS towards improved ocean access, protection, and governance is available here.
https://egis.environment.gov.za/municipalenvprofiles
This website provides Environmental Profiles for 44 district municipalities. Profiles include spatial maps, statistics, and integrated support plans covering five themes – biodiversity, waste management, climate risk and vulnerability, air quality, environmental governance and job opportunities through environmental community works / infrastructure programmes.
A short “brochure” and a 1-page infographic is available for download for each district municipality. A user will be able to understand the environmental landscape across the district, environmental governance challenge and interventions, relevant programmes and plans, and contact details for district environmental officers.
Operator / Owner: Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment
User Notes
- Data appears to be outdated drawing on 2011 Census data and environmental information up to 2017.
- A reporting template was used to gather information for each district municipality. Municipalities are supposed to report on the template twice a year for monitoring and performance.
- Use together with the set of E-tools above and the LetsRespond Toolkit below.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://saaqis.environment.gov.za/
The South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) is a web-based interactive air quality information system which seeks to provide publicly available data and documents related to the state of air quality. It is also a research portal for strengthening policy development to improve air quality. Using the mapping tool, a user is able to search for air quality indicators from monitoring stations located around the country.
Data and information includes ambient air quality monitoring data and reports, emission reporting and licensing for sources of pollution, public notices, relevant legislation and bylaws, air quality management plans, and records from annual air quality governance lekgotla’s. Learner’s resources include booklets on the sources and impacts of air pollution, air pollution awareness for students and teachers, and an introduction to climate change.
Contact details for metropolitan and district air quality officers are also available, but these have not been verified.
Operator / Owner: Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment; South African Weather Services
User Notes
- There are gaps in monitoring data from some stations. There are also gaps in information such as legislation and bylaws and reports from expert advisory bodies.
- Use together with the Municipal Environmental Profiles site above and the IQAir platform below.
- Emission reporting and licensing is provided through an emission licensing and inventory portal (SAAELIP). Licence holder details are available, but not the emission licence. SAAELIP is offline for updates.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://ghgreporting-public.environment.gov.za/GHGLanding/SAGERSHome.html#resources
The South African Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting System (SAGERS) is a web-based platform for the registration and submission of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data and pollution prevention plans.
The objective of the platform is for GHG emitting facilities to register and report their annual GHG emissions data and the associated activity data. The portal provides relevant templates and guidelines tailored for registered data providers. In preparation for the new National Climate Change Act, SAGERS is undergoing a system update for the submission of carbon budgets and mitigation plans (currently referred to as pollution prevention plans).
Operator / Owner: Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment
User Notes
- SAGERS is setup for registered GHG emitting facilities. Currently, there is no public access to these reports through this platform.
Training Material (Yes/No):
Yes. See SAGERS resources.
In 2019, the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of Energy were combined into one ministerial department. The department’s joint mission is to regulate, transform, and promote the minerals and energy sectors, providing sustainable and affordable energy for growth and development, and ensure that all South Africans derive sustainable benefit from the country’s mineral wealth.
The energy department’s home website provides links to key policies and legislation for various sources of energy, including petroleum, natural gas, electricity, renewable energy, and nuclear power, along with a description of each energy source. It also has dedicated pages for key programmes and projects, and recent developments are published through media updates. Programmes include women empowerment, youth empowerment, disability provision, and the Integrated Energy Centre.
Operator / Owner: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy
User Notes
- See the Strategic Plan for 2020 – 2025 and publications on a range of energy and mining topics.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://www.ipp-renewables.co.za/
The Independent Power Producer (“IPP”) Procurement Programme website provides announcements and updates related to government’s procurement of electricity generation from different types of IPPs. Links to separate web-pages for each technology are also provided:
- Large Renewables Programme
- Coal-to-Power Programme
- Risk Mitigation and Gas-to-Power Programme; and
- Energy Storage
Operator / Owner: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (IPP Office); National Treasury; Development Bank of South Africa
User Notes
- Web-pages for each IPP technology type also list the panel of advisors (technical, economic, and legal) for the preparation of requests for proposals and for the evaluation of bidding documents.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://www.ipp-projects.co.za/ProjectDatabase/Map; https://www.ipp-projects.co.za/ProjectDatabase
A project database is available for all IPP projects that have been procured (contracted by government) to generate electricity for the national grid. It covers all technology types mentioned above, but currently there is only information for renewable energy projects up to Bid Window 6. Details available in the database and using the interactive mapping tool include a bid reference, project name, technology, capacity (MW), province, local community, and project status.
Operator / Owner: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (IPP Office); National Treasury; Development Bank of South Africa
User Notes
- Database last updated in April 2023. Also see the latest annual overview report for IPP procurement.
- There are no available links to project-based documents such as environmental authorisations, power producer agreements, or social and economic development (SED) plans and quarterly reports.
- Use together with the South African Renewable Energy Application Database above and #PowerTracker below.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://www.petroleumagencysa.com/index.php
Petroleum Agency SA promotes exploration for onshore and offshore oil and gas resources and their optimal development on behalf of government. The Agency regulates exploration and production activities, and acts as the custodian of the national petroleum exploration and production database. The home website provides relevant legislation and regulations, links to notices for seismic testing, exploration right applications, and the Agency’s annual reports. It also provides a description of different rights and permits, and reporting requirements of licence-holders.
The Oil and Gas Application mapping tool is available to the public. A user can click on colour-coded blocks onshore and offshore to see the operator’s name, licence type, area size, and status of an application. Links to application forms and guidelines for work programmes are also available.
Operator / Owner: Petroleum Agency South Africa
User Notes
- See the contact details for onshore and offshore rights holders here. Links to licence-holder reports are not available.
- Use together with the Exploration Activities Map, the Ocean’s and Coastal Management Information System above, and the GreenConnection Map below.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://www.dmr.gov.za/mineral-policy-promotion/operating-mines
In 2019, the Department of Mineral Resources and the Department of Energy were combined into one ministerial department. The department’s joint mission is to regulate, transform, and promote the minerals and energy sectors, providing sustainable and affordable energy for growth and development, and ensure that all South Africans derive sustainable benefit from the country’s mineral wealth.
The mineral resource department’s home website provides information on mine health and safety, mineral laws and regulations, mineral promotional documents, and public notices. A registry of operating mines by province is also available. The mines are grouped according to mineral produced. Details include the name of the mine, owner, contact details, commodities mined, operational status, type of mine, magisterial district, and location.
Operator / Owner: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy
User Notes
- There are no database links to mine-based documents such as licences, environmental management programmes, or social and labour plans.
- It is not clear how regularly these records are updated.
- See resources for relevant records. Updates range from recent to more than a year.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://www.dmr.gov.za/samrad-online-system
SAMRAD ONLINE is the South African Mineral Resources Administration System for the general public to view specific applications, rights and permits made or held in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act 28 of 2002). It is also meant to be an online portal for the submission of electronic applications.
Operator / Owner: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy
User Notes
- This portal appears to be disfunctional.
- It will be replaced by a new electronic mining licensing system. A service provider has been appointed to design and implement his “cadastre” system. This is important to track the extraction of fossil fuels and “clean energy transition minerals”.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
National Energy Regulator of South Africa is a regulatory authority established in terms of the National Energy Regulator Act 40 of 2004. It’s mandate is to regulate the energy industry in accordance with government laws and policies, standards and international best practices in support of sustainable and orderly development. The home website includes updates on relevant news, publications, legislation, regulator decisions, and information and knowledge related to electricity supply, petroleum pipelines, and piped-gas.
The electricity section of the website provides access to specific legislation, licences issued by NERSA, electrical infrastructure planning, and compliance, monitoring, and enforcement reports. Categories of available information under licences include: licences issued for electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and trading. This covers IPP projects dating back to 2020.
Operator / Owner: National Energy Regulator of South Africa.
User Notes
- The compliance audit reports for generation, distribution, and transmission facilities are limited.
- A list of all registered generation facilities from 2018 to date is available here.
- Note the procurement database which reports tenders awarded by NERSA here.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
The Energy One Stop Shop website (Energy OSS) is a resource for energy authorisations and information enabling new generation capacity in South Africa, as part of the The Presidency’s Energy Action Plan. The aim of this web portal is to create a single entry point to expedite, fast track and unlock all applications for energy-related projects in South Africa. Among its services, this Energy OSS assists with the registration of all new energy projects, coordination between developers and departments, technical advisory services to developers, and engagements between Industry Associations, Developers and Departments.
Useful resources for the public includes a visual roadmap of all of the licences and permits that an Independent Power Producer requires to legally generate and sell electricity, and a checklist of licence documents per government department.
Operator / Owner: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
User Notes
- The licence roadmap is available here and the licence checklist is available here.
- The Energy OSS registration portal is here.
Training Material (Yes/No):
No. The licence roadmap and checklist are helpful public resources.
The South African Heritage Resources Agency is responsible for the protection of South Africa’s cultural heritage resources. This archive site provides information on facilities that were required to conduct heritage impact assessments during the development stage. This includes independent power producers. The documents on record differ per facility, but a description of the facility is provided and, in some cases, environmental impact assessment records, including the environmental authorisations.
A user can locate these records by inserting the facilities name into the cases and report map.
Operator / Owner: South African Heritage Resources Agency
User Notes
- Use together with the IPP Project Map and Database and South African Renewable Energy Application Database above.
- Facility records appear to include Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Bid Window 6.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://www.eskom.co.za/about-eskom/just-energy-transition-jet/
Eskom established its Just Energy Transition (JET) Office in 2020. Eskom’s vision is to transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an increase in sustainable jobs, through activities such as accelerating the repurposing and repowering of stations, pursuing a share in renewable energy allocation in line with South Africa’s electricity plan, and implementing an integrated a socio-economic strategy including reskilling.
The JET Office website provides educational videoclips, factsheets and descriptions of current JET projects; this includes the repurposing of Komati power station and the environmental and social reports for this process.
Operator / Owner: Eskom
User Notes
- Komati’s environmental and social reports are available here (link to https://www.eskom.co.za/about-eskom/just-energy-transition-jet/komati-power-station-repowering-and-repurposing/)
- Planning documents for the repurposing of Grootvlei, Camden, Hendrina, Arnot, and Kriel power stations are not yet available. There is no updated decommissioning schedule for Eskom’s fleet of coal-fired power stations.
Training Material (Yes/No):
No. The available video clips are helpful to raise public awareness.
https://www.eskom.co.za/dataportal/
Eskom’s web-based data portal provides up-to-date data and statistics for demand side, supply side, diesel power generators, renewable power generators, outage forecasts, and emission reports for its fleet of power stations. This includes regulated pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.
The emissions dashboard provides Eskom’s monthly carbon dioxide emissions (in tons) generated from Eskom’s fleet of power stations, and users are able to download monthly emission reports for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and particulate matter, per station, for the period 2018 – 2023.
Operator / Owner: Eskom
User Notes
- Monthly atmospheric emission licence reports are available here.
- Users are able to obtain further data by submitting an application form available here.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://mpumalangagreencluster.co.za/
The Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency is a registered not-for-profit organisation established to advance a sustainable and inclusive green economy and create shared value in the Mpumalanga province. The Agency works together with business, government, and academia to create an environment for a more resilient green economy.
Available resources include market opportunity briefs the water sector, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. There is also an interactive green economic activity map of the Mpumalanga province covering the agricultural, water, and energy sectors.
Operator / Owner: GreenCape; Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism
User Notes
- The Green Projects Map is available here.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
Private Body Resources
- 22. The Initiative for Social Performance in Renewable Energy
- 23. #PowerTracker
- 24. #MineAlert
- 25. Solar PV Data Portal
- 26. The Green Connection Oil and Gas Exploration Map
- 27. IQAir Map (International Organisaton)
https://inspire-excellence.net/
The Initiative for Social Performance in Renewable Energy (INSPIRE) is a registered non-profit company and non-profit organisation, which aims to advance the field of social performance in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, with the wider goal of becoming a leading platform for capacity building and best practice across the African continent and internationally. INSPIRE was founded by Synergy Global Consulting, Actis, Lekela and BTE Renewables.
The INSPIRE platform serves as a knowledge base, including industry impact reports, community needs studies, guidelines, toolkits, and it provides resources for learning and leadership development for improved social performance across the renewable energy industry.
Guidelines and toolkits include: the Green Hydrogen Community Development Toolkit; A business guide to respecting human rights during project deployment; and monitoring and evaluation in the context of community investments.
Operator / Owner: The Initiative for Social Performance in Renewable Energy
User Notes
- Industry impact reports, guidelines, and toolkits are available here.
- See reports from various workshop events here.
Training Material (Yes/No):
Yes. Training and capacity building material is designed for social performance practitioners.
https://powertracker.oxpeckers.org/; https://oxpeckers.org/guide-for-journalists-powertracker/
#PowerTracker is a publicly available mapping tool that provides easy access to information on renewable energy projects and the decommissioning of coal-powered plants in South Africa. The first stage of this mapping tool tracks power generation projects based in the Mpumalanga province, with plans to expand the #PowerTracker database to other provinces.
Developed by Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism, this interactive mapping tool presents information on the plant location, carbon footprint, impact, cost, spending, and decommissioning or repurposing initiatives. The database covers hydropower plants, solar PV plants, wind plants, biomass plants, coal-fired power plants, and mixed power generation plants. Where available, additional information is provided such as source links, environmental and social governance, historical context, and mines linked to the power generation plant.
Operator / Owner: Oxpeckers Center for Investigative Environmental Journalism
User Notes
- Original data can be obtained by contacting Oxpeckers.
- Journalists are able to contribute further data and relevant investigations.
- Use together with the IPP Project Map and Database, South African Renewable Energy Application Database, NERSA website, and the Heritage Resources Information System.
Training Material (Yes/No):
Yes. See Oxpeckers Learning Kit here.
https://oxpeckers.org/minealert/
#MineAlert is a website and mobile app that alerts residents and organisations to mining applications and licences in their regions. It promotes public- and private-sector accountability in the mining sector, to advance civil society and socio-economic rights, to protect the free flow of information, and to strengthen justice and equality.
Developed by Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism #MineAlert provides a centralised platform for users to access, track and share information and documents on mining applications and licences, including the mine type, location, and status. The mapping tool also provides information on threats to vulnerable water resources (surface and groundwater) and updates on water-use licence applications attached to new mining developments.
Operator / Owner: Oxpeckers Center for Investigative Environmental Journalism
User Notes
- The data presented in the app includes the latest register of operating mines available on the Department of Resources Website above.
- Data is available here.
- Users can join and participate by registering for alerts and by sharing the app with other concerned citizens.
Training Material (Yes/No): No
https://sapvia.co.za/dataportal/dataportal-public
The South African Photovoltaic Industry Association is a non-profit industry association established to promote, develop, and grow the Photovoltaic (“PV”) industry as part of the wider renewable energy sector in South Africa. This web platform quantifies the installed capacity of solar PV in South Africa using satellite imagery.
The public data portal tracks total installed capacity as well as the installed capacity per market segment, namely residential, small-scale commercial and industrial, large scale commercial and industrial, and utility scale (Independent Power Producer plants).
Operator / Owner: South African Photovoltaic Industry Association; GeoTerra Image; PrimeThought
User Notes
- Provincial level data and full datasets are only available to SAPVIA members.
- Use together with the IPP Project Map and Database, South African Renewable Energy Application Database, NERSA website, and the Heritage Resources Information System above.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
https://thegreenconnection.org.za/opposing-oil-and-gas-exploration/
The Green Connection is a non-profit organisation that works with works with diverse funders and partners, as well as national and local government on various initiatives to foster understanding and awareness about the different aspects of sustainable development.
The Green Connection launched the “Who Stole Our Oceans” campaign in 2020 in a bid to protect South Africa’s oceans for future generations with a particular emphasis on opposing offshore oil and gas exploration. This campaign provides a map showing the oil and gas exploration and production activities taking place along South Africa’s coastline, by block, from the Northern Cape around to KwaZulu Natal. Details include the applicant name and application stage.
Operator / Owner: The Green Connection
User Notes
- This mapping tool is based on the Petroleum Agency of South Africa above. Also use together with the National Oceans and Coastal Information Management System above.
- A video recording is available that provides an overview of processes within each exploration project and indicate the project’s status (last updated in June 2022).
- Documents related to exploration activities are also available here.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
IQAir is a technology partner of the United Nations Environmental Program, UN Habitat, and Greenpeace. It operates the world’s largest free real-time air quality information platform. One of the publicly available tools is a global air quality map which provides air quality indicators for particulate matter – a harmful pollutant known to cause severe health impacts. The interactive mapping tool includes an air quality rating (from good to hazardous), wind direction, and fire incidents using NASA satellite data. It also ranks the most polluted cities around the world.
South Africa’s real-time air quality profile is available here.
Operator / Owner: IQAir
User Notes
- A phone app is available and individuals and organisations are able to contribute air quality data to the platform.
- Use together with the South African Air Quality Information System above and the South African Weather Service Website under Category 2.
Training Material (Yes/No): No.
