The Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue

On 27-28 March, a South African delegation of government and business leaders participated in the 9th Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD) under the motto “Energiewende – Securing a Green Future”. The event brought together high-ranking delegations from over 60 countries to discuss strategies for the transformation of energy systems around the world and paths toward climate neutrality.

As the world urgently searches for solutions to decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, South African representatives used the opportunity to showcase the country’s potential as a global leader in the future green hydrogen and power-to-x economy. “South Africa is endowed with some of the world’s best solar and wind conditions, significant mineral resources, and existing hydrogen value chains and industries. We therefore aim to position South Africa to be a leading producer of beneficiated products like sustainable aviation fuel and ammonia”, said Joanne Bate from Industrial Development Corporation who participated in the delegation. South Africa also featured during the Women’s Lunch, a key feature in the BETD. The chairperson of the Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU)’ Women in Electricity initiative, Ms. Lomile Modiselle attended and represented South African women in the global network for energy transition. 

Outside of the official programme, South African representatives met with Federal Ministry for Economics and Climate Action (BMWK)  and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ),  Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office), members of the German Parliament and KfW. The delegates made presentations during side events by International Power-to-X Hub and German Energy Agency (dena) and at a bilateral business roundtable at the South African Embassy to Germany. The delegation also engaged with Siemens Energy, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and 50Hertz Transmission GmbH. 

The delegation visit was jointly supported by the South African-german Energy Partnership, the International Power-to-X Hub, Promoting a South African Green Hydrogen Economy (H@.SA) and the Business Alliance Green Hydrogen.