Renewable electricity output in South Africa
South Africa: Renewable electricity output was 6.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Renewable electricity output in South Africa, 1990–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of total electricity output.
Analysis
In 2021, renewable electricity output in South Africa stood at 6.4%. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.3% on the previous year and up 222.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable electricity output in South Africa peaked at 6.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1993.
That places South Africa 157th out of 210 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Renewable electricity output in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total electricity output | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.6% | — |
| 1991 | 1.2% | +94.8% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | -62.0% |
| 1993 | 0.1% | -81.3% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | +607.3% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | -52.1% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | +141.2% |
| 1997 | 1.1% | +55.6% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | -16.4% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | -48.9% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | +340.1% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -11.0% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | -7.1% |
| 2004 | 1.9% | +11.7% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | +15.0% |
| 2007 | 1.7% | -19.6% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 1.8% | +6.9% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 1.8% | -9.6% |
| 2013 | 1.7% | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 2.1% | +23.4% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | +24.7% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | +16.1% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | +34.8% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | +16.6% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | +14.7% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | +7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 1.7% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.2% | 6.0% | 6.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 154 Republic of Korea 6.6% compare
- 155 Solomon Islands 6.6% compare
- 156 Republic of Moldova 6.5% compare
- 158 Kosovo 6.4% compare
- 158 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 6.4% compare
- 160 Sao Tome and Principe 6.1% compare
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.3095 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is renewable electricity output in South Africa?
- Renewable electricity output in South Africa was 6.4% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest renewable electricity output recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest renewable electricity output recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1993.
- How does South Africa rank for renewable electricity output?
- South Africa ranks 157th out of 210 countries with data for 2021.
- Is renewable electricity output rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 222.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Renewable electricity is the share of electricity generated by renewable power plants in total electricity generated by all types of plants.