Electricity in South Africa in 2024
In 2024, South Africa's electricity consumption is heavily dominated by fossil fuels, accounting for more than 80% of the total. Almost all of this comes from coal, which alone contributes to over 82% of the country's electricity generation. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources, including solar, wind, and nuclear, collectively represent close to 17% of electricity generation. Solar power alone generates approximately 8%, making it the largest contributor among low-carbon sources. Wind energy follows with a contribution of almost 5%, and nuclear energy provides just over 3% of the electricity mix. This heavy reliance on coal underscores the need for South Africa to focus on transitioning toward cleaner energy to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, South Africa could draw inspiration from countries with successful low-carbon strategies. For instance, France and Slovakia rely heavily on nuclear power, generating more than 60% and close to 70% of their electricity from this source, respectively. Emulating their approach could help South Africa boost its nuclear capacity. Denmark has achieved significant progress in wind energy, with over half of its electricity coming from wind. South Africa could apply similar strategies to harness its wind potential, especially given its favorable geographic conditions. Additionally, countries like Chile and Lebanon have made remarkable strides in solar energy, accounting for over 20% of their electricity mix. By investing and adopting best practices in solar technology from these regions, South Africa can further advance its clean energy transition.
History
Historically, South Africa's journey toward low-carbon electricity has seen notable fluctuations, particularly with nuclear energy. In the mid-1980s and early 2000s, the country experienced periods of growth in nuclear generation, but these were often followed by significant declines. Notable decreases occurred in years like 1987 and 1990, where generation dropped by nearly 3 TWh each time. Between 2011 and 2021, the country made efforts to embrace greater shares of wind energy, witnessing two sizeable increases in generation in 2015 and 2017. In recent years, solar energy has seen the most substantial growth, with a remarkable increase of over 13 TWh in 2024 alone. The fluctuating commitment to nuclear has hindered consistent low-carbon energy growth, but the recent surge in solar energy presents a promising path forward for sustainable electricity generation in South Africa.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.