Primary energy from solar and wind in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy from solar and wind was 29.86 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
29.86 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
22nd
of 111 countries
All-time high
29.86 terawatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
0 terawatt-hours
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Primary energy from solar and wind in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, primary energy from solar and wind in South Africa stood at 29.86 terawatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.7% on the previous year and up 413.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from solar and wind in South Africa peaked at 29.86 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
That places South Africa 22nd out of 111 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.
Primary energy from solar and wind in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1966 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1968 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1969 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1970 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1971 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1973 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1974 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1975 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1976 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1977 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1978 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1979 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1980 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1987 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1988 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1989 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1990 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1994 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1995 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1997 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1998 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1999 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2000 | 0.0093 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 0.0108 terawatt-hours | +16.1% |
| 2002 | 0.0124 terawatt-hours | +14.8% |
| 2003 | 0.0199 terawatt-hours | +60.5% |
| 2004 | 0.0275 terawatt-hours | +38.2% |
| 2005 | 0.029 terawatt-hours | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 0.0306 terawatt-hours | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 0.0321 terawatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 0.0427 terawatt-hours | +33.0% |
| 2009 | 0.0533 terawatt-hours | +24.8% |
| 2010 | 0.0616 terawatt-hours | +15.6% |
| 2011 | 0.1173 terawatt-hours | +90.4% |
| 2012 | 0.123 terawatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 0.28 terawatt-hours | +127.6% |
| 2014 | 2.14 terawatt-hours | +664.6% |
| 2015 | 5.82 terawatt-hours | +171.8% |
| 2016 | 7.48 terawatt-hours | +28.6% |
| 2017 | 11.26 terawatt-hours | +50.5% |
| 2018 | 10.78 terawatt-hours | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 11.51 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2020 | 12.39 terawatt-hours | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 15.08 terawatt-hours | +21.7% |
| 2022 | 19.23 terawatt-hours | +27.5% |
| 2023 | 25.5 terawatt-hours | +32.6% |
| 2024 | 28.52 terawatt-hours | +11.8% |
| 2025 | 29.86 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0268 terawatt-hours | 0.0093 terawatt-hours | 0.0533 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.96 terawatt-hours | 0.0616 terawatt-hours | 11.51 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.76 terawatt-hours | 12.39 terawatt-hours | 29.86 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)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary energy from solar and wind in South Africa?
- Primary energy from solar and wind in South Africa was 29.86 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy from solar and wind recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 29.86 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy from solar and wind recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy from solar and wind?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 111 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from solar and wind rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 413.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy from solar and wind. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours of total energy supply.