South Africa Bioenergy Power: Generation, Share and Trend
South Africa generated 470 GWh of electricity from bioenergy in 2025, 0.2% of its total, according to Ember. That made it the 57th largest bioenergy power producer in 2025 of the 127 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year. Bioenergy supplied 2.0% of the world's electricity in 2025. These are annual statistics for 2025; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.
Key Facts
- South Africa generated 470 GWh of electricity from bioenergy in 2025.
- Bioenergy supplied 0.2% of South Africa's electricity in 2025.
- South Africa was the 57th largest bioenergy power producer in 2025 among the 127 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year.
- South Africa's bioenergy generation in 2025 was 15% higher than in 2020, when it was 410 GWh.
- South Africa's bioenergy generation in 2025 was 47% higher than in 2015, when it was 320 GWh.
- South Africa's bioenergy generation peaked at 480 GWh in 2000.
- South Africa's bioenergy share in 2025 was below the world share of 2.0%.
- South Africa had 260 MW of bioenergy generating capacity in 2025.
Key Figures, 2025
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Bioenergy generation | 470 GWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Share of South Africa's electricity | 0.2% | 2025 · Ember |
| World share of bioenergy | 2.0% | 2025 · Ember |
| Rank by bioenergy generation (each country's latest year) | 57 of 127 | 2025 · Ember |
| Bioenergy capacity | 260 MW | 2025 · Ember |
Bioenergy Generation Year by Year
Ember annual statistics, 2000 to 2025Annual statistics through 2025, GWh
| Year | Bioenergy |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 480 GWh |
| 2001 | 420 GWh |
| 2002 | 460 GWh |
| 2003 | 410 GWh |
| 2004 | 380 GWh |
| 2005 | 430 GWh |
| 2006 | 410 GWh |
| 2007 | 430 GWh |
| 2008 | 460 GWh |
| 2009 | 450 GWh |
| 2010 | 400 GWh |
| 2011 | 410 GWh |
| 2012 | 420 GWh |
| 2013 | 480 GWh |
| 2014 | 360 GWh |
| 2015 | 320 GWh |
| 2016 | 330 GWh |
| 2017 | 390 GWh |
| 2018 | 430 GWh |
| 2019 | 430 GWh |
| 2020 | 410 GWh |
| 2021 | 410 GWh |
| 2022 | 360 GWh |
| 2023 | 470 GWh |
| 2024 | 470 GWh |
| 2025 | 470 GWh |
Annual statistics through 2025, % of generation
| Year | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.2% | 1.0% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | 1.0% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | 1.0% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | 1.4% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | 1.5% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | 1.5% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | 1.6% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | 1.7% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | 1.8% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | 1.9% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | 1.9% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | 1.9% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | 2.0% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | 2.0% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.2% | 2.1% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | 2.1% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | 2.1% |
| 2024 | 0.2% | 2.0% |
| 2025 | 0.2% | 2.0% |
| Year | Generation | Share | World share | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 470 GWh | 0.2% | 2.0% | 260 MW |
| 2024 | 470 GWh | 0.2% | 2.0% | 260 MW |
| 2023 | 470 GWh | 0.2% | 2.1% | 260 MW |
| 2022 | 360 GWh | 0.2% | 2.1% | 260 MW |
| 2021 | 410 GWh | 0.2% | 2.1% | 260 MW |
| 2020 | 410 GWh | 0.2% | 2.1% | 260 MW |
| 2019 | 430 GWh | 0.2% | 2.0% | 260 MW |
| 2018 | 430 GWh | 0.2% | 2.0% | 260 MW |
| 2017 | 390 GWh | 0.2% | 1.9% | 260 MW |
| 2016 | 330 GWh | 0.1% | 1.9% | 260 MW |
Full year by year history for South Africa
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. World shares are Ember's World totals; ranks compare each country's latest year, which can differ between countries.