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South Africa Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions

South Africa generated 243 TWh of electricity in 2025, according to Ember. Coal was the largest source at 81.4%, followed by solar (8.1%) and wind (4.7%). Demand was 237 TWh and each kWh generated emitted 699 gCO2/kWh. These are annual statistics for 2025, with monthly figures through August 2026; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.

Key Facts

  • South Africa generated 243 TWh of electricity in 2025.
  • Coal supplied 81.4% of South Africa's electricity in 2025.
  • Solar supplied 8.1% of South Africa's electricity in 2025.
  • Wind supplied 4.7% of South Africa's electricity in 2025.
  • Low carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) supplied 17.8% of South Africa's generation in 2025.
  • The carbon intensity of South Africa's electricity was 699 gCO2/kWh in 2025.
  • South Africa's carbon intensity in 2025 was 13% lower than in 2000, when it was 799 gCO2/kWh.
  • South Africa had the 24th highest electricity demand among the 96 countries with Ember data for 2025.

Key Figures, 2025

MeasureValueAs of / source
Total generation243 TWh2025 · Ember
Electricity demand237 TWh2025 · Ember
Demand per person3.66 MWh2025 · Ember
Net imports-5.94 TWh2025 · Ember
Carbon intensity699 gCO2/kWh2025 · Ember
Power sector emissions170 MtCO22025 · Ember
Demand rank (countries with 2025 data)24 of 962025 · Ember

Generation Mix, 2025

SourceGenerationShare
Coal 198 TWh 81.4%
Solar 19.5 TWh 8.1%
Wind 11.3 TWh 4.7%
Nuclear 10.2 TWh 4.2%
Other fossil 1.94 TWh 0.8%
Hydro 1.82 TWh 0.8%
Bioenergy 430 GWh 0.2%
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Year by Year

Ember annual statistics, 2000 to 2025
South Africa electricity generation by source, 2000 to 2025 South Africa's electricity generation by main source from 2000 to 2025, in TWh. In 2025 the largest sources were coal at 198 TWh, solar at 19.5 TWh, wind at 11.3 TWh, nuclear at 10.2 TWh, other fossil at 1.94 TWh. 0 63 125 188 250 200020052010201520202025
South Africa's electricity generation by main source from 2000 to 2025, in TWh. In 2025 the largest sources were coal at 198 TWh, solar at 19.5 TWh, wind at 11.3 TWh, nuclear at 10.2 TWh, other fossil at 1.94 TWh.
Annual statistics through 2025, TWh
South Africa electricity generation by source, 2000 to 2025
YearCoalSolarWindNuclearOther fossil
2000196 TWh0 TWh0 TWh13.0 TWh0 TWh
2001197 TWh0 TWh0 TWh10.7 TWh0 TWh
2002206 TWh20.0 GWh0 TWh12.0 TWh0 TWh
2003220 TWh20.0 GWh10.0 GWh12.7 TWh0 TWh
2004230 TWh20.0 GWh10.0 GWh13.4 TWh0 TWh
2005232 TWh20.0 GWh10.0 GWh11.3 TWh0 TWh
2006240 TWh20.0 GWh10.0 GWh10.0 TWh0 TWh
2007248 TWh20.0 GWh10.0 GWh11.3 TWh1.17 TWh
2008243 TWh20.0 GWh20.0 GWh13.0 TWh140 GWh
2009235 TWh20.0 GWh30.0 GWh12.8 TWh50.0 GWh
2010243 TWh20.0 GWh30.0 GWh13.5 TWh200 GWh
2011244 TWh20.0 GWh40.0 GWh12.9 TWh720 GWh
2012240 TWh30.0 GWh40.0 GWh13.0 TWh1.93 TWh
2013233 TWh50.0 GWh40.0 GWh14.1 TWh3.66 TWh
2014230 TWh1.08 TWh1.07 TWh13.8 TWh3.76 TWh
2015227 TWh2.40 TWh3.07 TWh12.2 TWh3.99 TWh
2016230 TWh3.01 TWh4.21 TWh15.0 TWh30.0 GWh
2017229 TWh3.94 TWh7.02 TWh14.2 TWh120 GWh
2018231 TWh4.54 TWh6.41 TWh11.6 TWh1.23 TWh
2019225 TWh5.40 TWh6.63 TWh13.3 TWh1.36 TWh
2020214 TWh6.98 TWh6.41 TWh9.90 TWh1.49 TWh
2021211 TWh7.84 TWh8.65 TWh12.4 TWh3.27 TWh
2022202 TWh10.5 TWh9.70 TWh10.1 TWh3.68 TWh
2023192 TWh14.8 TWh11.6 TWh8.10 TWh3.68 TWh
2024207 TWh18.3 TWh11.1 TWh7.80 TWh1.94 TWh
2025198 TWh19.5 TWh11.3 TWh10.2 TWh1.94 TWh
YearGenerationDemandCarbon intensity
2025 243 TWh 237 TWh 699 gCO2/kWh
2024 248 TWh 246 TWh 718 gCO2/kWh
2023 233 TWh 232 TWh 714 gCO2/kWh
2022 239 TWh 238 TWh 729 gCO2/kWh
2021 245 TWh 242 TWh 742 gCO2/kWh
2020 241 TWh 237 TWh 763 gCO2/kWh
2019 253 TWh 248 TWh 764 gCO2/kWh
2018 256 TWh 252 TWh 775 gCO2/kWh
2017 255 TWh 249 TWh 769 gCO2/kWh
2016 253 TWh 247 TWh 779 gCO2/kWh

Full year by year history for South Africa, 2000 to 2025

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

Month by Month

Ember monthly statistics through August 2026
South Africa monthly electricity demand and generation, September 2024 to August 2026 South Africa's electricity demand in August 2026 was 19.1 TWh, and generation from the sources Ember reports was 18.8 TWh. Carbon intensity that month was 726 gCO2/kWh. 0 6 13 19 25 2024-092025-032025-092026-03
South Africa's electricity demand in August 2026 was 19.1 TWh, and generation from the sources Ember reports was 18.8 TWh. Carbon intensity that month was 726 gCO2/kWh.
Monthly statistics through August 2026, TWh
South Africa monthly electricity demand and generation, September 2024 to August 2026
MonthDemandGeneration
2024-0919.3 TWh20.0 TWh
2024-1019.7 TWh20.4 TWh
2024-1118.9 TWh19.8 TWh
2024-1218.3 TWh19.0 TWh
2025-0118.5 TWh19.2 TWh
2025-0216.9 TWh17.5 TWh
2025-0318.8 TWh19.4 TWh
2025-0418.3 TWh18.8 TWh
2025-0519.8 TWh20.4 TWh
2025-0619.9 TWh20.6 TWh
2025-0720.3 TWh21.1 TWh
2025-0819.5 TWh20.3 TWh
2025-0917.8 TWh18.8 TWh
2025-1018.3 TWh19.3 TWh
2025-1117.5 TWh18.3 TWh
2025-1217.1 TWh17.5 TWh
2026-0117.4 TWh18.0 TWh
2026-0216.3 TWh16.8 TWh
2026-0318.1 TWh18.1 TWh
2026-0417.3 TWh17.1 TWh
2026-0519.0 TWh18.7 TWh
2026-0619.2 TWh18.9 TWh
2026-0719.7 TWh19.4 TWh
2026-0819.1 TWh18.8 TWh

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of August 2026.

Seasonal Patterns in South Africa

Ember monthly statistics, complete years only, through August 2026

Electricity demand by month

Look for the brightest columns. Averaged over 2018 to 2025, demand is highest in June and lowest in December, and the busiest month uses 14% more electricity per day than the quietest.

South Africa's electricity demand for each month, in TWh, 2018 to 2025. Colour shows demand per day, so short months are not shaded as quiet.
Year JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 18.5 16.9 18.8 18.3 19.8 19.9 20.3 19.5 17.8 18.3 17.5 17.1
2024 18.3 17.5 19.0 18.8 19.9 20.6 21.3 20.5 19.3 19.7 18.9 18.3
2023 18.0 16.6 19.0 17.6 18.9 19.8 19.9 19.6 18.2 19.6 18.3 18.3
2022 19.5 18.3 20.0 19.3 20.5 20.5 20.4 20.8 18.4 19.3 18.8 17.6
2021 19.6 18.3 20.2 19.7 21.1 20.8 21.9 21.2 19.9 19.8 19.3 19.0
2020 20.1 19.0 19.7 15.9 19.0 20.4 21.3 20.8 19.9 20.6 19.7 19.5
2019 20.8 18.9 20.5 20.3 21.7 21.4 22.1 20.9 20.4 21.1 20.2 19.3
2018 20.8 19.2 21.2 20.1 22.0 21.6 22.3 21.8 20.5 21.5 20.8 20.1
  • Lower demand per day
  • Higher demand per day
  • No data
  • Each cell shows the month's total demand in TWh, and colour compares demand per day so short months are not shaded as quiet. Lowest cell 15.9 TWh, highest 22.3 TWh. Colours are relative to South Africa alone.

Low carbon share of generation by month

Look for the brightest columns. Averaged over 2018 to 2025, the low carbon share is highest in December (17%) and lowest in May (11%), a gap of 6.1 points.

Share of South Africa's electricity generation from nuclear and renewable sources for each month, in percent, 2018 to 2025.
Year JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 22% 18% 14% 16% 16% 15% 15% 16% 17% 20% 24% 29%
2024 20% 18% 16% 15% 14% 12% 13% 15% 15% 18% 18% 19%
2023 18% 17% 16% 15% 13% 14% 14% 15% 17% 17% 18% 19%
2022 15% 12% 12% 13% 11% 11% 11% 14% 14% 16% 19% 19%
2021 12% 12% 10% 8% 9% 10% 12% 12% 13% 14% 15% 17%
2020 12% 12% 11% 10% 8% 8% 9% 9% 9% 10% 13% 14%
2019 12% 11% 11% 11% 9% 10% 11% 11% 10% 8% 9% 9%
2018 10% 11% 8% 9% 7% 8% 10% 10% 9% 8% 8% 9%
  • Lower low carbon share
  • Higher low carbon share
  • No data
  • Each cell shows the low carbon share. Lowest cell 7%, highest 29%. Colours are relative to South Africa alone.

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of August 2026. Complete calendar years only.

Countries With a Similar Electricity Mix

Ember annual, 2025

South Africa's closest match is Mongolia, 89.8% the same.

  1. Mongolia 89.8% the same Mongolia generates 5.7 points less solar than South Africa
  2. India 87.3% the same India generates 10.5 points less coal than South Africa
  3. Kosovo 87.1% the same Kosovo generates 7.9 points more coal than South Africa
  4. Botswana 82.5% the same Botswana generates 16.9 points more coal than South Africa
  5. Morocco 74.5% the same Morocco generates 19.0 points less coal than South Africa

How close: the share of generation that would have to change fuel for one mix to match the other (half the sum of the fuel share differences); 100% minus that is "the same". Grids under 1 TWh are skipped. Grid twins: the 25 closest pairs and every country's nearest match

South Africa Electricity FAQ

What is the main source of electricity in South Africa?

Coal was the largest source of electricity in South Africa in 2025, supplying 81.4% of generation, followed by solar (8.1%) and wind (4.7%). Figures are Ember annual statistics.

How much electricity does South Africa use?

South Africa used 237 TWh of electricity in 2025, about 3.66 MWh per person.

How clean is South Africa's electricity?

Generating a kilowatt hour of electricity in South Africa emitted 699 gCO2/kWh in 2025, and low carbon sources supplied 17.8% of generation. That is 52% above the world average of 460 gCO2/kWh.

Does South Africa import electricity?

No. South Africa was a net exporter in 2025, exporting 5.94 TWh more than it imported.

When does South Africa use the most electricity?

Averaged over 2018 to 2025, South Africa's electricity demand is highest in June and lowest in December. The busiest month uses 14% more electricity per day than the quietest (Ember monthly data).

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2026). South Africa Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions. https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/south-africa/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. South Africa Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions. Data as of 2026-08. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/south-africa/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_countries_south_africa_2026,
  title = {{South Africa Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Data as of 2026-08. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/south-africa/}
}

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