Renewable electricity generation by source in South Africa
South Africa: Renewable electricity generation by source was 11.32 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Renewable electricity generation by source in South Africa, 1971–2025
Source: Ember (2026); Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Pinto et al. (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, renewable electricity generation by source in South Africa stood at 11.32 terawatt-hours.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 268.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable electricity generation by source in South Africa peaked at 11.6 terawatt-hours in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1971.
That places South Africa 29th out of 212 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 9 |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.01 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0.03 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.86 terawatt-hours | 0.03 terawatt-hours | 7.02 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8 terawatt-hours | 6.41 terawatt-hours | 11.6 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 renewable electricity generation by source in South Africa?
- Renewable electricity generation by source in South Africa was 11.32 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026); Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Pinto et al. (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest renewable electricity generation by source recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.6 terawatt-hours in 2023.
- What is the lowest renewable electricity generation by source recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for renewable electricity generation by source?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is renewable electricity generation by source rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 268.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026); Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Pinto et al. (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Renewable electricity generation by source. 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.