- A new report from Meridian Economics examines how South Africa can strengthen the credibility and transparency of greenhouse gas emissions accounting within its electricity sector.
- The study explores the relationship between electricity emission factors, energy attribute certificates (EACs) and carbon offsets, and identifies the institutional, data and policy frameworks required to establish reliable tracking systems.
According to the report, developing a robust approach to monitoring and reporting emissions is essential for aligning South Africa’s evolving power market with international best practices and ensuring environmental integrity.
One of the key issues highlighted is the uncertainty surrounding ownership of public Energy Attribute Certificates—particularly those generated by Eskom’s assets, such as nuclear power, and those linked to publicly procured renewable projects under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
The report notes that clarification is needed on whether these public EACs should be retained by the government or Eskom to ensure the environmental benefits accrue to all electricity consumers, or whether the utility should be permitted to sell them separately to raise revenue in support of its operations.
Link to the full scoping study HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
