Energy efficiency in South Africa: policy perspectives and the path to low carbon growth

Energy efficiency is becoming one of the key paths to transforming the South African economy into low carbon growth. This vision has been accepted by both the government and business community. To this end, the White Paper on Energy, National Energy Efficiency Strategy of 2005 (revised 2008), Energy Efficiency Accord and the National Climate Change Response Green Paper are among key policy documents. The Energy Efficiency Strategy spelt out a target of a national final energy demand reduction of 12% by 2015. Industry and Government agreed that the Energy Efficiency Strategy should be reviewed in three-year cycles. This paper reviews and assesses the energy efficiency policy landscape in South Africa and how this is assisting the nation to transform into a globally recognised low carbon economy. We conclude that South Africa is progressing well in terms of putting in place new as well as refining old pieces of legislation on energy efficiency leading to a low carbon growth path.