Global GridSouth Africa's energy mix and electricity
🇿🇦 In 2025, South Africa generated 243 TWh of electricity. The largest source was coal at 81%, followed by solar (8%) and wind (4.7%). In total, 18% came from low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) and 82% from fossil fuels.
On average, each kilowatt hour produced about 699 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂), far above the world average of 458 grams in 2025. That makes South Africa the 147th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Electricity demand was 237 TWh. South Africa exported 5.92 TWh more electricity than it imported.
Since 2000, electricity generation has grown by 15%, from 211 TWh. The low-carbon share went from 7% to 18%. The biggest rise was in solar, from 0% to 8% of generation. The biggest fall was in coal, from 93% to 81%. Carbon intensity fell from 799 to 699 grams per kWh.
Live, hour-by-hour figures for South Africa are not connected yet. The dashboard shows its yearly figures, energy mix since 2000 and interconnector trade.
Energy mix in 2025
- Coal 81%
- Solar 8%
- Wind 4.7%
- Nuclear 4.2%
- Oil and other fossil fuels 0.8%
- Hydro 0.8%
- Bioenergy 0.2%
| Source | Share | Generated |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 81% | 198 TWh |
| Solar | 8% | 19.4 TWh |
| Wind | 4.7% | 11.4 TWh |
| Nuclear | 4.2% | 10.2 TWh |
| Oil and other fossil fuels | 0.8% | 1.94 TWh |
| Hydro | 0.8% | 1.94 TWh |
| Bioenergy | 0.2% | 0.49 TWh |
Total energy mix in 2024
Electricity is only part of the energy South Africa uses: fuel for transport, heating and industry counts too. In 2024, South Africa used 1,360 TWh of energy in all (primary energy). The largest source was coal at 72%, followed by oil (20%) and gas (3.5%). Fossil fuels made up 95% and low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) 5.0%.
- Coal 72%
- Oil 20%
- Gas 3.5%
- Wind 2%
- Nuclear 1.4%
- Solar 1.2%
- Hydro 0.2%
- Biofuels 0.1%
- Other renewables 0.1%
| Source | Share of all energy |
|---|---|
| Coal | 72% |
| Oil | 20% |
| Gas | 3.5% |
| Wind | 2% |
| Nuclear | 1.4% |
| Solar | 1.2% |
| Hydro | 0.2% |
| Biofuels | 0.1% |
| Other renewables | 0.1% |
Primary energy, with nuclear and renewable electricity counted as the fuel a power station would need to make it (the "substitution method"). Here "other renewables" is the Energy Institute's "geothermal, biomass and other" power generation, and biofuels are liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Source: Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0).
Energy security score
Strong. South Africa ranks 43rd of 158 countries and 6th of 35 in Africa. The score shows how well a country could keep electricity affordable and on if fuel supplies were disrupted.
| Measure | Score |
|---|---|
| Produces its own energy In 2024, South Africa produced energy equal to 118% of all the energy it used (100% or more scores full marks). | 100 |
| Variety of power sources How evenly generation is spread across nine sources. The largest, coal, made 81%. | 37 |
| Little reliance on imported power South Africa exported more electricity than it imported, so it scores full marks. | 100 |
| Low-carbon power Nuclear and renewables made 18% of generation. | 18 |
| Low gas and oil use Gas and oil made 0.8% of generation; the score is 100 minus that share. | 99 |
The five measures are weighted 30%, 20%, 20%, 15% and 15%. How the score works.
Oil and gas pipelines
Global Energy Monitor lists 1,881 km of oil and gas pipelines operating in South Africa, 0 km being built and 6,394 km proposed (lengths measured along the mapped routes; a pipeline crossing borders counts in full for each country). For liquefied natural gas (LNG), shipped by sea, it lists 0 import terminals operating (3 more being built or proposed).
See them on the interactive map · Pipelines around the world
How it has changed
| Year | Generated | Low-carbon | Fossil | CO₂ g/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 211 TWh | 7% | 93% | 799 |
| 2005 | 245 TWh | 6% | 95% | 813 |
| 2010 | 260 TWh | 5% | 94% | 808 |
| 2015 | 250 TWh | 7% | 93% | 791 |
| 2020 | 241 TWh | 11% | 90% | 763 |
| 2024 | 248 TWh | 15% | 85% | 718 |
| 2025 | 243 TWh | 18% | 82% | 699 |
Questions about South Africa's energy
What is South Africa's energy mix?
In 2025, South Africa's electricity came from coal 81%, solar 8%, wind 4.7% and nuclear 4.2%. Counting all the energy it uses, including fuel for transport and heating, the mix in 2024 was coal 72%, oil 20%, gas 3.5% and wind 2%.
How much of South Africa's electricity is renewable?
14% of its electricity came from renewables in 2025 (solar 8%, wind 4.7% and hydro 0.8%). Including nuclear power, 18% of its electricity was low-carbon.
What is South Africa's main source of electricity?
Coal, which made 81% of its electricity in 2025.
How clean is South Africa's electricity?
About 699 grams of CO₂ for each kilowatt hour in 2025, far above the world average of 458 grams. It ranks 147th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Does South Africa import electricity?
It is a net exporter: in 2025 it exported 5.92 TWh more electricity than it imported.
How secure is South Africa's energy supply?
Global Grid's energy security score for South Africa is 75 out of 100 (strong), 43rd of 158 countries. It looks at how much of its own energy it produces, how varied its power sources are, its reliance on imported power and its use of low-carbon power, gas and oil.
Other countries in Africa
Sources: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2025; energy production and use by source from the Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0), 2024; pipelines and LNG terminals from Global Energy Monitor's Global Oil Infrastructure Tracker (June 2026 release) and Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker (November 2025 release) (CC BY 4.0). Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).