Southern Africa faces an energy crisis. Despite efforts to increase electricity generation, the region still struggles to meet rising demand. How can countries work together to develop a secure low-carbon energy infrastructure to meet increased demand and ensure universal energy access? This paper identifies how centralised and decentralised approaches might support development of a secure low-carbon energy infrastructure in Southern Africa to meet increased demand and ensure universal energy access. It sets out the energy challenges facing the SADC region, highlights the political economy challenges in achieving greater regional cooperation in the power sector, and presents opportunities for catalysing decentralised energy systems.