Since 2013
Electric vehicle (EV) batteries, Power-to-X products and grid infrastructure: advancing key technologies together
- The cooperation with South Africa concentrated on three strategic energy technologies where the partnership delivers concrete contributions to supply chain resilience, trade and innovation.
- Refined metals and battery precursor materials from South Africa can reduce critical dependencies in the German automotive and battery industry.
- Bilateral cooperation on hydrogen and Power-to-X is progressing from political dialogue towards investment-ready, industrial scale projects.
- South Africa is advancing one of the transmission expansion programmes globally, which creates substantial investment opportunities for German grid operators and infrastructure providers.
Energy security
Decarbonisation
Foreign Trade Promotion
The South African-German Energy Partnership concentrated on three pivotal energy technologies:
The German automotive industry is increasingly recognising opportunities to strengthen battery supply resilience by working with South African partners. Meanwhile, major Power-to-X (PtX) projects in South Africa are advancing with German technology, financing and offtake. Additionally, South Africa has launched one of the world’s largest transmission development plans, creating ample opportunities for cooperation on grid infrastructure and technology.
A resilient electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain
In 2025, the Energy Partnership facilitated engagements between South Africa’s trade department, industry bank and German industry representatives, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and research institutes. An initial delegation trip in March 2025, organised in collaboration with the VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry) and the Competence Centre for Lithium-Ion Batteries (KLIB), kickstarted conversations on South Africa’s potential to supply refined metals and precursor products – such as cathodes, anodes and electrolytes – to German battery makers. These early exchanges have since evolved into concrete partnership and offtake discussions.
Progress on PtX
The Energy Partnership has driven bilateral hydrogen cooperation since 2017 culminating in the establishment of a hydrogen task force in 2023. In 2025, a BMWE delegation visited South Africa, engaging with policymakers, financiers and developers. The visit showed that several major projects are advancing into detailed technical preparation, nearing final investment decisions. It also highlighted the potential for additional projects such as clean aviation fuel and green iron. The implementation of these projects, however, will require investable policy frameworks.
Grid expansion and innovation
South Africa plans to build 14,000 km transmission lines until 2035 through innovative public-private partnerships (PPPs) and financing models. The Energy Partnership contributed early to policy development through studies on financing and digital innovation, conducted in collaboration with South African stakeholders. It has furthermore facilitated direct exchanges between South African policymakers and German grid operators and infrastructure providers.
More information
1. How did your activities contribute to the selected overarching goals (energy security, decarbonisation, foreign trade promotion)?
The partnership promoted energy security and decarbonisation through resilient supply chains for energy transition metals, battery precursors and Power-to-X products.
The partnership promoted foreign trade by linking German grid infrastructure providers and operators with private and public sector partners in South Africa for cooperation in the context of South Africa’s transmission development plan.
