Meridian Economics recently undertook a project to better understand the decarbonisation options available to the high emitting coal-to-liquid assets of Secunda and Sasolburg in South Africa. A key objective of the project was to experiment with methodology for decarbonisation analysis. The majority of existing analysis on decarbonisation in the energy sector focuses on techno-economic, continuous and near-linear pathways to 2050, whilst paying less attention to other knowledge lenses and stakeholder perspectives.
In this briefing note, we discuss the methodology that underpins the project. The methodology incorporates additional conceptual views and knowledge sources to deepen understanding of the complexity and uncertainty of the just transition challenge, and to promote optimal transition decision-making and governance of large emitting assets, in the public interest. The approach developed here is intended to be readily applicable to other emitting assets in both developed and developing country contexts.