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Data as of 2025
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Built 2026-09-19 (19 September 2026)

South Africa Electricity History, 2000 to 2025

South Africa generated 211 TWh of electricity in 2000 and 243 TWh in 2025. South Africa's electricity demand peaked at 260 TWh in 2007. The carbon intensity of South Africa's electricity went from 799 gCO2/kWh in 2000 to 699 gCO2/kWh in 2025. Figures are Ember annual statistics; Ember's series for South Africa starts in 2000.

Key Facts

  • South Africa generated 211 TWh of electricity in 2000 and 243 TWh in 2025.
  • South Africa's electricity demand peaked at 260 TWh in 2007.
  • The carbon intensity of South Africa's electricity went from 799 gCO2/kWh in 2000 to 699 gCO2/kWh in 2025.
  • South Africa's lowest carbon intensity on record was 699 gCO2/kWh, in 2025.
  • Coal's share of South Africa's electricity went from 93.1% in 2000 to 81.4% in 2025, the largest change of any source.

Generation and Demand

2000 to 2025, TWh
South Africa electricity generation and demand, 2000 to 2025 South Africa generated 211 TWh of electricity in 2000 and 243 TWh in 2025. 0 75 150 225 300 200020052010201520202025
South Africa generated 211 TWh of electricity in 2000 and 243 TWh in 2025.
Annual statistics through 2025, TWh
South Africa electricity generation and demand, 2000 to 2025
YearGenerationDemand
2000211 TWh223 TWh
2001210 TWh212 TWh
2002221 TWh223 TWh
2003234 TWh232 TWh
2004245 TWh241 TWh
2005245 TWh243 TWh
2006254 TWh251 TWh
2007263 TWh260 TWh
2008258 TWh255 TWh
2009250 TWh248 TWh
2010260 TWh257 TWh
2011262 TWh259 TWh
2012258 TWh253 TWh
2013256 TWh251 TWh
2014255 TWh252 TWh
2015250 TWh249 TWh
2016253 TWh247 TWh
2017255 TWh249 TWh
2018256 TWh252 TWh
2019253 TWh248 TWh
2020241 TWh237 TWh
2021245 TWh242 TWh
2022239 TWh238 TWh
2023233 TWh232 TWh
2024248 TWh246 TWh
2025243 TWh237 TWh

Carbon Intensity

gCO2 per kWh generated
South Africa carbon intensity of electricity, 2000 to 2025 The carbon intensity of South Africa's electricity went from 799 gCO2/kWh in 2000 to 699 gCO2/kWh in 2025. 0 250 500 750 1,000 200020052010201520202025
The carbon intensity of South Africa's electricity went from 799 gCO2/kWh in 2000 to 699 gCO2/kWh in 2025.
Annual statistics through 2025
South Africa carbon intensity of electricity, 2000 to 2025
YearCarbon intensity
2000799 gCO2/kWh
2001806 gCO2/kWh
2002802 gCO2/kWh
2003808 gCO2/kWh
2004807 gCO2/kWh
2005813 gCO2/kWh
2006814 gCO2/kWh
2007810 gCO2/kWh
2008809 gCO2/kWh
2009808 gCO2/kWh
2010808 gCO2/kWh
2011804 gCO2/kWh
2012807 gCO2/kWh
2013800 gCO2/kWh
2014792 gCO2/kWh
2015791 gCO2/kWh
2016779 gCO2/kWh
2017769 gCO2/kWh
2018775 gCO2/kWh
2019764 gCO2/kWh
2020763 gCO2/kWh
2021742 gCO2/kWh
2022729 gCO2/kWh
2023714 gCO2/kWh
2024718 gCO2/kWh
2025699 gCO2/kWh

Every Year

YearGenerationDemandNet importsCarbon intensityLow carbon share
2025 243 TWh 237 TWh -5.92 TWh 699 gCO2/kWh 17.8%
2024 248 TWh 246 TWh -1.30 TWh 718 gCO2/kWh 15.7%
2023 233 TWh 232 TWh -550 GWh 714 gCO2/kWh 15.9%
2022 239 TWh 238 TWh -1.51 TWh 729 gCO2/kWh 14.1%
2021 245 TWh 242 TWh -3.57 TWh 742 gCO2/kWh 12.7%
2020 241 TWh 237 TWh -3.82 TWh 763 gCO2/kWh 10.5%
2019 253 TWh 248 TWh -5.17 TWh 764 gCO2/kWh 10.5%
2018 256 TWh 252 TWh -4.70 TWh 775 gCO2/kWh 9.4%
2017 255 TWh 249 TWh -6.63 TWh 769 gCO2/kWh 10.3%
2016 253 TWh 247 TWh -5.99 TWh 779 gCO2/kWh 9.2%
2015 250 TWh 249 TWh -1.55 TWh 791 gCO2/kWh 7.5%
2014 255 TWh 252 TWh -2.66 TWh 792 gCO2/kWh 7.1%
2013 256 TWh 251 TWh -4.50 TWh 800 gCO2/kWh 6.2%
2012 258 TWh 253 TWh -5.03 TWh 807 gCO2/kWh 5.6%
2011 262 TWh 259 TWh -3.07 TWh 804 gCO2/kWh 6.3%
2010 260 TWh 257 TWh -2.47 TWh 808 gCO2/kWh 5.8%
2009 250 TWh 248 TWh -1.76 TWh 808 gCO2/kWh 5.9%
2008 258 TWh 255 TWh -3.60 TWh 809 gCO2/kWh 5.7%
2007 263 TWh 260 TWh -3.15 TWh 810 gCO2/kWh 5.6%
2006 254 TWh 251 TWh -2.96 TWh 814 gCO2/kWh 5.3%
2005 245 TWh 243 TWh -2.34 TWh 813 gCO2/kWh 5.3%
2004 245 TWh 241 TWh -3.44 TWh 807 gCO2/kWh 6.0%
2003 234 TWh 232 TWh -2.07 TWh 808 gCO2/kWh 5.9%
2002 221 TWh 223 TWh 2.25 TWh 802 gCO2/kWh 6.6%
2001 210 TWh 212 TWh 2.20 TWh 806 gCO2/kWh 6.1%
2000 211 TWh 223 TWh 12.3 TWh 799 gCO2/kWh 6.9%

Share of Generation by Source

Percent of total generation
YearCoalGasOther fossilNuclearHydroWindSolarBioenergy
202581.4%0.0%0.8%4.2%0.8%4.7%8.0%0.2%
202483.6%0.0%0.8%3.2%0.4%4.5%7.4%0.2%
202382.6%0.0%1.6%3.5%0.9%5.0%6.4%0.2%
202284.4%0.0%1.5%4.2%1.3%4.1%4.4%0.2%
202185.9%0.0%1.3%5.0%0.8%3.5%3.2%0.2%
202088.9%0.0%0.6%4.1%0.6%2.7%2.9%0.2%
201989.0%0.0%0.5%5.2%0.3%2.6%2.1%0.2%
201890.1%0.0%0.5%4.5%0.4%2.5%1.8%0.2%
201789.6%0.0%0.1%5.6%0.3%2.8%1.5%0.2%
201690.8%0.0%0.0%5.9%0.2%1.7%1.2%0.1%
201590.9%0.0%1.6%4.9%0.3%1.2%1.0%0.1%
201490.2%1.2%1.5%5.4%0.7%0.4%0.4%0.1%
201391.2%1.2%1.4%5.5%0.4%0.0%0.0%0.2%
201293.0%0.7%0.8%5.0%0.4%0.0%0.0%0.2%
201193.1%0.3%0.3%4.9%1.2%0.0%0.0%0.2%
201093.8%0.3%0.1%5.2%0.4%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200994.1%0.0%0.0%5.1%0.6%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200894.2%0.0%0.1%5.0%0.5%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200794.0%0.0%0.4%4.3%1.1%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200694.7%0.0%0.0%4.0%1.1%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200594.6%0.0%0.0%4.6%0.5%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200494.0%0.0%0.0%5.5%0.4%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200394.1%0.0%0.0%5.4%0.4%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200293.4%0.0%0.0%5.4%0.9%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200193.9%0.0%0.0%5.1%0.8%0.0%0.0%0.2%
200093.1%0.0%0.0%6.2%0.5%0.0%0.0%0.2%

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