State-owned power utility Eskom’s Research, Testing and Development (RT&D) Centre, in Rosherville, Johannesburg, is being positioned as a critical national asset for developing technologies that can support South Africa’s energy transition, strengthen energy security and contribute to broader industrialisation.

During a high-level engagement held on September 2, Eskom CEO Dan Marokane, RT&D GM Prudence Madiba and Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted the growing importance of translating the utility’s energy sustainability research into practical technologies that can be deployed across the electricity sector and wider economy.

Marokane described the RT&D facility as the “heart and brain” of Eskom, particularly as the utility works to address the competing demands of energy security, emissions reduction and the responsible use of South Africa’s coal resources.

“[On] Monday, we released our financial results, a brilliant set of results, but we also indicated the challenges that we have going forth.

“We have to address the issue of [the energy] transition. We have to address and find practical solutions towards emissions; we have to find solutions for using the coal endowment that this country has for longer, responsibly, and all those capabilities are tested and modified in this place,” he highlighted.

Marokane added that the capabilities developed and tested at Eskom RT&D would be important in shortening the journey from technological concepts to implementation, while strategic partnerships with external organisations could further accelerate this process.

Further, Madiba outlined a significant expansion in the scope of Eskom RT&D’s work, noting that the centre was moving from its historical focus on engineering investigations and applied chemistry towards a closer alignment with Eskom’s broader enterprise strategy and sustainability objectives.

The Centre’s research portfolio includes clean coal technologies, green hydrogen, energy storage, grid technologies, AI, digitalisation, transmission infrastructure and the use of coal by-products.

Among the technologies being investigated are systems aimed at reducing emissions from coal-fired power stations, including sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate emissions.

Additionally, Eskom RT&D is also working on coal ash beneficiation and ash use, including the use of ash in road construction.

“In 2024, we launched the Kusile ash road which was a heavy-duty road but we are moving into this year in collaboration with the Mpumalanga government and our generation team. We are building the road between Komati and Hendrina.

“We are also looking into the road between Kriel and Matla, in Mpumalanga. We also have a road in Limpopo, with Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) around Bela-Bela,” Madiba noted.

Green hydrogen represents another emerging area of focus, with Madiba outlining potential applications including hydrogen production and sales, power wheeling, hydrogen and ammonia cofiring, grid services, heavy-duty mobility and offgrid applications.

Ramokgopa, meanwhile, argued that Eskom RT&D should be treated as a strategic national asset rather than simply as an internal Eskom research facility.

He said the centre’s work extended beyond Eskom’s immediate requirements, with the potential to support advanced manufacturing, engineering capability and industrial development in South Africa.

A major focus of his intervention was the need for substantially greater investments into research and development, as well as developing a stronger pipeline of scientists and engineers.

“This must be a cherished place. Anyone who is serious about science and the resolution of humanity’s problems must associate themselves with this institution.

“We are creating a centre of excellence. For any country to progress, [you need] the ability to forwardly plan, to have a critical mass of brains that are interested in anticipating what the future looks like and formulating responses in relation to that future,” the Minister said.

Ramokgopa also welcomed Eskom RT&D’s work on clean coal, arguing that technological innovation could allow South Africa to continue using its substantial coal resources while addressing the associated emissions challenge.

He said the centre should ultimately become a place capable of bringing together research, engineering and practical ideas to continue resolving South Africa’s existing energy challenges.