Who we are

The South African Platform for Energy Modellers (SAPEM) is a collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing EVIDENCE-BASED ENERGY MODELLING, supporting the larger South African energy modelling ecosystem, and providing information, scenarios and insights for better decision making for the public good.

Our vision is to create a strong community of practice that supports energy modelling outputs that are independent, transparent, and serve the public good.

SAPEM strengthens the energy modelling ecosystem by:

BUILDING AND MAINTAINING LOCAL EXPERTISE in energy system modelling.

SHARING DATA, TOOLS, AND KNOWLEDGE openly and transparently.

SUPPORTING POSTGRADUATE TRAINING and capacity building.

FACILITATING COLLABORATION between researchers, policymakers, and industry.

ACTING AS A REPOSITORY for open-source energy modelling data and methods.

Our members

Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES)

Stellenbosch University

Energy Systems
Research Group (ESRG)

University of Cape Town

Centre for Sustainability
Transitions (CST)

Stellenbosch University

Together, these groups represent decades of experience in energy systems modelling, sustainability research, and policy engagement.

Ordinary Members

Ordinary membership is open to entities that maintain a system-level energy model and the necessary in-house expertise to utilise it, and who regularly disseminate publicly available data, methodologies and results based on this model.

Stellenbosch University

University of Cape Town

Stellenbosch University

Associate Members

Associate membership is open to entities that do not necessarily maintain a system-level energy model but do support decision making related to South Africa’s energy future, and whose principles align with the objectives of SAPEM (with specific focus on evidence-based, open-source, public benefit activities).

Governance

SAPEM is governed by a Steering Group, made up of representatives from its Ordinary Members.

EVALUATING membership applications.

APPROVING and OVERSEEING projects.

ALLOCATING FUNDING and maintaining TRANSPARENCY in resource use.

Ensuring SAPEM’S OBJECTIVES are advanced in line with its charter.

Day-to-day administration is managed by the SAPEM Secretariat, hosted within Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Engineering.

Donors and funders

SAPEM’s activities are supported by generous contributions from various donors and funders, including the following: