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The objective of this study was to determine whether a PESTLE analysis and sector factors can be incorporated as building blocks in the conceptual development of a PMMM for the South African power sector. A PESTLE analysis studies the key external factors (political, economic, sociological, technological, legal and environmental) that influence an organisation. A detailed literature review was conducted on the topic and a research design was developed followed with a case study. The research establishes the characteristics of the South African power sector through a literature review and a PESTLE analysis. This study contributes to the discussion on constructing a conceptual PMMM for the South African power sector. In 2018 African countries created the largest global continental market to boost trade in Africa by signing the Continental Free Trade Agreement. At that time, Africa had the lowest intra-trade figure compared to its Asian and European counterparts. However, Pasara (2020) highlights some of the challenges of African economic integration, including process and systems. The scope of the study focuses on the South African power sector because it is the largest producer of electricity in South Africa. The analysis of this study provides insight into practitioners and professionals in the literature that exists on the sector factors and provides the characteristics of the South African power sector. It also provides a foundation for understanding the building blocks for the PMMM development. The contribution includes an analysis to determine whether a PESTLE analysis and power sector factors should be incorporated into the PMMM measurement for the South African power sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the emergence of blockchain technology in the energy sector in the light of ongoing energy market transformation. The study builds on literature research and expert interviews, and provides insights into the future energy landscape in the context of the blockchain advent. While the interviewees acknowledge the great, though disruptive, potential of blockchain technology for the primary activities in the electricity sector, there is agreement that inflexible regulatory frameworks impose the biggest challenge. The widest impact which blockchain technology will have in the short-term will be in electric vehicle integration, while in the long-term blockchain will enable peer-to-peer microgrids. The role that the blockchain will play, though, relies mainly on the business model innovation in energy. While a growing body of literature discusses specific blockchain applications and solutions in an advanced technological set-up, this paper presents a holistic picture of the blockchain applicability in the energy sector and thematises this very powerful and versatile technology against the background of two emerging economies: South Africa and Russia. • The electricity sector is testing the blockchain technology in an attempt to support the decentralisation of energy production, while the oil & gas sector uses the blockchain for business process optimisation. • The near-term outlook is mainly associated with the blockchain-enabled electric vehicle integration. The long-term impact is uncertain. • Although the blockchain is very applicable to decentralised systems and could help overcome a lot of energy-related issues, their regulatory frameworks are very inflexible. • For the blockchain technology to play a bigger role in the energy field, more business model innovations for the energy sector are needed. • Most likely those systems will play a wider role for energy markets across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modelling approaches are utilised to understand complex and dynamic issues, which are characteristic of the South Africa power sector, especially since the sector has been at the centre of green economy debates. This paper thus draws on a system dynamics approach that captures and represents the dynamic behaviour of transforming the power sector with a green economy framework. This was done utilising the South Africa Green Economy Model and investigating whether current policies and strategies can improve economic growth, while at the same time reducing the impact on the environment and providing more employment. In general, the paper shows that green economy investments in the power sector provide opportunities for achieving the diversification of the energy mix, job creation, as well as CO2eqemissions reduction. However, more aggressive investments are necessary if all of the targets, as laid out in the National Development Plan, are to be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]