Electricity generation from renewables in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from renewables was 33.1 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation from renewables in South Africa, 1971–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from renewables in South Africa is 33.1 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.9% on the previous year and up 407.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from renewables in South Africa peaked at 33.1 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.112 terawatt-hours, in 1971.
South Africa ranks 39th of 209 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.23 terawatt-hours | 0.112 terawatt-hours | 1.94 terawatt-hours | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.46 terawatt-hours | 0.56 terawatt-hours | 3.16 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.19 terawatt-hours | 0.146 terawatt-hours | 2.24 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.11 terawatt-hours | 1.27 terawatt-hours | 3.34 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.51 terawatt-hours | 1.51 terawatt-hours | 13.2 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.13 terawatt-hours | 15.27 terawatt-hours | 33.1 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.5% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 30.3% (2025)
- Gas production 0.6284 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 9.82 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0.6284 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 9.82 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel exports 8.2% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 10.2% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 56.3% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from renewables in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from renewables in South Africa was 33.1 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.1 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.112 terawatt-hours in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from renewables?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from renewables rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 407.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.