New Report: Opportunities for Digitalisation in the South African Energy Sector

October 2025

Keywords: digitalisation, energy transition, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, grid flexibility, grid resilience, innovation

Read the full report | Read the Executive Summary

South Africa is at a critical juncture in this transition. Long dependent on coal, the country is diversifying its energy mix while tackling challenges such as load shedding, ageing infrastructure, and the need for greater resilience. Digitalisation is emerging as a key enabler — optimising production, strengthening grid management, and supporting renewable energy integration in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) agenda.

This report explores how digital technologies can drive South Africa’s transition towards a more sustainable, reliable, and inclusive energy future. It highlights six critical areas of opportunity:

• Asset Management: Using digital tools to improve efficiency and reliability across the value chain.
• Cybersecurity: Safeguarding data integrity and grid resilience in a digitised energy system.
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure: Enabling real-time monitoring, consumer engagement, and smarter grid operations.
• Digital Infrastructure & Data Sharing: Building the backbone for connectivity, forecasting, and decision-making.
• Market-Driven Flexibility: Leveraging digital tools to balance supply and demand while integrating renewables.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Unlocking predictive insights for maintenance, forecasting, and operational optimisation.

The report identifies 21 actionable opportunities ranging from short-term initiatives — such as scaling Eskom’s load limiting pilots and deploying smart meters — to long-term system redesigns including virtual power plants, blockchain-enabled energy trading, and national data-sharing platforms.

By advancing digitalisation, South Africa cannot only secure its power system but also unlock socio-economic benefits: new skills, jobs, and investment opportunities. The interplay of digital innovation and energy reform holds the potential to accelerate the just energy transition and strengthen resilience for decades to come.

Target Audience: The report is intended for policymakers, regulators, utility and technology providers, researchers, and industry stakeholders seeking to understand how digitalisation can support South Africa’s energy transition.