Key updates for 2023

The 2023 Report shows a modest decline in the carbon intensity of grid-supplied electricity. In numeric terms, the Domestic Generation GEF (DGGEF) fell from 0.960 tCO₂e/MWh in 2022 to 0.942 tCO₂e/MWh in 2023, reflecting a 4% reduction in electricity generated from high-carbon sources (mainly coal) compared to 2022. The National Generation GEF (NGGEF) fell from 0.931 tCO₂e/MWh to 0.906 tCO₂e/MWh, benefiting from over 99% of South Africa’s total electricity imports being from renewable sources (mainly hydropower), feeding cleaner power into the overall mix and reducing emissions intensity. The Transmission Losses GEF (TLGEF) registered at 0.020 tCO₂e/MWh and the Distribution Losses GEF (DLGEF) at 0.062 tCO₂e/MWh, both slight improvements from 2022, showing modest gains in reducing transmission and distribution inefficiencies across the grid.

The below figure extracted from the 2023 Report reflects the downward trend in the DGGEF and NGGEF between 2021 and 2023:

Despite these improvements, roughly 80% of South Africa’s electricity remains coal-generated. While carbon intensity is at its lowest recorded level across the three GEF reporting years (2021–2023), it remains high by global standards. These marginal improvements nonetheless signal progress aligned with South Africa’s Just Energy Transition and long-term carbon neutrality goals.

Why the GEFs changed

The gradual decline in the carbon intensity of grid-supplied electricity in 2023 indicates a progressive shift in South Africa’s electricity mix. The 2023 GEF Report attributes the overall decline primarily to a slight shift in the generation mix consisting of less energy from high-carbon sources and increased generation from hydro and wind, together with cleaner imports that lowered the emissions intensity of electricity consumed nationally.

The decline in the carbon intensity of the grid can also be attributed to various operational and policy developments in the energy sector: Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor, which reflects the percentage of total generation capacity that is available to produce electricity to meet demand, dropped from 62% in 2022 to 60% in 2023 Approximately 332 days of load-shedding were recorded for 2023, compared to 205 days in 2022. The 2023 Report confirms that there was a 61% increase in reliance on diesel, which has a lower carbon emission factor than coal. When Eskom’s coal-fired generation units are offline more frequently (due to load-shedding, breakdowns, or maintenance), the electricity generated from coal decreases and the uptake in diesel increases. While this translates into lower GEFs across the board, it is not necessarily indicative of the uptake of long-term sustainable generation solutions.

Implications for reporting

For all electricity consumers, the updated 2023 GEFs mean a slightly smaller carbon footprint for the same amount of electricity usage. By applying the 2023 GEF values in carbon accounting, companies and individuals alike ensure that their carbon sustainability disclosures reflect the actual performance of the grid and ultimately helps keep South African emission reporting aligned with reality and with national decarbonisation goals.