Solar energy generation by region in South Africa
South Africa: Solar energy generation by region was 18.56 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
18.56 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 6.8%
World rank
20th
of 79 countries
All-time high
18.56 terawatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
0 terawatt-hours
in 1971
Years of data
55
1971–2025
Solar energy generation by region in South Africa, 1971–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for solar energy generation by region in South Africa is 18.56 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.8% on the previous year and up 575.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar energy generation by region in South Africa peaked at 18.56 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1971.
That places South Africa 20th out of 79 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.
Solar energy generation by region in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.0139 terawatt-hours | +12.1% |
| 2004 | 0.0155 terawatt-hours | +11.5% |
| 2005 | 0.017 terawatt-hours | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 0.0186 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 2007 | 0.0201 terawatt-hours | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 0.0217 terawatt-hours | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 0.0233 terawatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 0.0276 terawatt-hours | +18.5% |
| 2011 | 0.0803 terawatt-hours | +190.9% |
| 2012 | 0.086 terawatt-hours | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 0.243 terawatt-hours | +182.6% |
| 2014 | 1.07 terawatt-hours | +342.4% |
| 2015 | 2.75 terawatt-hours | +155.7% |
| 2016 | 3.27 terawatt-hours | +19.1% |
| 2017 | 4.24 terawatt-hours | +29.5% |
| 2018 | 4.31 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 4.88 terawatt-hours | +13.2% |
| 2020 | 5.77 terawatt-hours | +18.1% |
| 2021 | 6.73 terawatt-hours | +16.6% |
| 2022 | 9.54 terawatt-hours | +41.9% |
| 2023 | 13.89 terawatt-hours | +45.6% |
| 2024 | 17.38 terawatt-hours | +25.1% |
| 2025 | 18.56 terawatt-hours | +6.8% |
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 | 0.0163 terawatt-hours | 0.0093 terawatt-hours | 0.0233 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1 terawatt-hours | 0.0276 terawatt-hours | 4.88 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.98 terawatt-hours | 5.77 terawatt-hours | 18.56 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 17 Poland 23.69 terawatt-hours compare
- 18 Chile 20.86 terawatt-hours compare
- 19 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 20 terawatt-hours compare
- 21 United Arab Emirates 18.2 terawatt-hours compare
- 22 Saudi Arabia 18.18 terawatt-hours compare
- 23 Taiwan, China 15.98 terawatt-hours compare
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 solar energy generation by region in South Africa?
- Solar energy generation by region in South Africa was 18.56 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar energy generation by region recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.56 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar energy generation by region recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for solar energy generation by region?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar energy generation by region rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 575.2%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Solar energy generation by region. 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
Figures are based on gross generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.