Wind energy generation vs. installed capacity in South Africa
South Africa: Wind energy generation vs. installed capacity was 11,297 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wind energy generation vs. installed capacity 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
South Africa recorded 11,297 terawatt-hours for wind energy generation vs. installed capacity in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 267.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wind energy generation vs. installed capacity in South Africa peaked at 11,613 terawatt-hours in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1971.
South Africa ranks 28th of 79 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wind energy generation vs. installed capacity 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 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2002 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2003 | 6 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2004 | 12 terawatt-hours | +100.0% |
| 2005 | 12 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 12 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 12 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 21 terawatt-hours | +75.0% |
| 2009 | 30 terawatt-hours | +42.9% |
| 2010 | 34 terawatt-hours | +13.3% |
| 2011 | 37 terawatt-hours | +8.8% |
| 2012 | 37 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 37 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1,066 terawatt-hours | +2781.1% |
| 2015 | 3,071 terawatt-hours | +188.1% |
| 2016 | 4,209 terawatt-hours | +37.1% |
| 2017 | 7,022 terawatt-hours | +66.8% |
| 2018 | 6,467 terawatt-hours | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 6,625 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 6,626 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 8,359 terawatt-hours | +26.2% |
| 2022 | 9,692 terawatt-hours | +15.9% |
| 2023 | 11,613 terawatt-hours | +19.8% |
| 2024 | 11,138 terawatt-hours | -4.1% |
| 2025 | 11,297 terawatt-hours | +1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 11,297 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,050 terawatt-hours, 10.8× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wind energy generation vs. installed capacity in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +2781.1% | 37 terawatt-hours | 1,066 terawatt-hours |
| 2015 | +188.1% | 1,066 terawatt-hours | 3,071 terawatt-hours |
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 | 10.5 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 30 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,860 terawatt-hours | 34 terawatt-hours | 7,022 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,788 terawatt-hours | 6,626 terawatt-hours | 11,613 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 wind energy generation vs. installed capacity in South Africa?
- Wind energy generation vs. installed capacity in South Africa was 11,297 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 wind energy generation vs. installed capacity recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11,613 terawatt-hours in 2023.
- What is the lowest wind energy generation vs. installed capacity recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for wind energy generation vs. installed capacity?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wind energy generation vs. installed capacity rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 267.9%. 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 Wind energy generation vs. installed capacity. 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.