South Africa produced around 245,000 GWh of electricity in 2021. Most of this electricity is produced using coal and is consumed domestically. In 2022, 12,300 GWh were exported to Eswatini, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other countries participating in the Southern African Power Pool. In 2022, South Africa imported 10,800 GWh from the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Power Station in Mozambique via the 1,920 MW Cahora Bassa (HDVC) Power Transmission System.

Most power stations in South Africa are owned and operated by the state owned enterprise Eskom. These plants account for 86%% of the total electricity produced in South Africa and ~20% of all electricity produced on the African continent. In terms of share of GDP in 2012, South Africa was the 4th largest investor in renewable power in the world after Uruguay, Mauritius and Costa Rica.

The following is a list of electricity-generating facilities in South Africa larger than 1 MW in capacity. It includes operational facilities and facilities under constructinon only. The net power output in megawatts is listed, indicating the maximum power that the power station can deliver to the grid.

For notable facilities that are not operating, or have been decommissioned, see List of decommissioned power stations in South Africa.

Coal

South Africa is the world's seventh biggest coal producer and has rich coal deposits concentrated in the north-east of the country. As such, the majority of South Africa's coal-fired plants are located in the Mpumalanga province. Around 81% of South Africa's energy needs are directly derived from coal and 81% of all coal consumed domestically goes towards electricity production. Historically this has given South Africa access to cheap electricity, but it is also one of the leading reasons that the country is in the top 20 list of carbon dioxide emitting countries.

Power plant Province Coordinates Total capacityMW Date commissioned (planned) Planned date of decommissionning Operator NotesArnot Power Station MP 2,352 1971–1975 2025–2029 EskomCamden Power Station MP 1,561 1967–1969;2005–2008 2020–2023 EskomDuvha Power Station MP 3,600 1980–1984 2030–2034 EskomGrootvlei Power Station MP 1,180 1969–1977;2008–2011 2025–2028 Eskom Units 5 and 6 were the first test facilities for dry cooling in South Africa.Hendrina Power Station MP 1,893 1970–1976 2021–2027 EskomKelvin Power Station GP 420 1957 2026Aldwych InternationalNameplate capacity: 420 MWKendal Power Station MP 4,116 1988–1992 2038–2043 Eskom Dry cooled; the largest dry-cooled power station in the world.Komati Power Station MP 1,000 1961–1966;2009–2013 2022 (currently decommissioned) EskomKriel Power Station MP 3,000 1976–1979 2026–2029 EskomKusile Power Station MP 4,800 (2022–2024) Eskom Under construction; 4/6 units operational.Dry cooled (planned: 4,800 MW).Lethabo Power Station FS 3,708 1985–1990 2035–2040 EskomMajuba Power Station MP 4,110 1996–2001 2046–2050 Eskom 3 units dry cooled (0.2 l/kWh), 3 units wet cooled (2.0 l/kWh)Matimba Power Station LP 3,990 1987–1991 2037–2041 Eskom Dry-cooledMatla Power Station MP 3,600 1979–1983 2029–2033 EskomMedupi Power Station LP 4,800 2021 Eskom Constructed; 5/6 units operational due to unit 4 explosion.Dry cooled (planned: 4,764 MW).Pretoria West Power Station GP 180 1952 2016 City of TshwaneNameplate capacity: 190 MWRooiwal Power Station GP 300 1963 2025 City of TshwaneNameplate capacity: 600 MWTutuka Power Station MP 3,654 1985–1990 2035–2040 Eskom Total: 48,264

Open cycle gas turbine (OCGT)

Power plant Province Coordinates Installed capacity(MW) Datecommissioned Operator Notes Acacia Power Station WC 171 1976 Eskom 3× 57 MW Ankerlig Power Station WC 1,327 2007 Eskom Peaking power stations - Eskom 4× 148 MW 5× 147 MW Gourikwa Power Station WC 740 2007 Eskom 5× 148 MW Newcastle Cogeneration Plant KZN 18 2007 IPSA Group 1× 18 MW Port Rex Power Station EC 171 1976 Eskom PORT REX AND ACACIA GAS TURBINE STATIONS 3× 57 MWAvon Peaking PowerKZN6702016Engie Energy 4× 167.5 MWDedisa Peaking PowerEC3352015Engie EnergyR3.5 billion (2015) 2× 167.5 MW Total: 3,432 27 OCGT units

Natural gas Power plant Province Installed capacity(MW) Commissioned Richards Bay Gas Power Plant KZN 3000 2030Total3000

Pumped storage

For a more complete list of hydro power stations from large to pico size, see the African hydropower database.African hydropower database

Power plantProvinceCoordinatesInstalled capacity(MW)Date commissioned(planned)OperatorNotesIngula Pumped StorageKZN1,3322017EskomDrakensberg Pumped StorageFS1,0001981EskomPalmiet Pumped StorageWC4001988EskomSteenbras Pumped StorageWC1801979City of Cape TownTotal:2,912

Hydroelectricity

For a more complete list of hydro power stations from large to pico size, see the African hydropower database.

Power plantProvinceCoordinatesInstalled capacity(MW)Date commissioned(planned)OperatorNotesCahora Bassa DamTete, Mozambique1,5001974Government of MozambiqueImported through SAPPGariepFS/EC3601971EskomVan der KloofNC2401977EskomCollywobbles / MbasheEC42EskomNeusbergNC10Kakamas Hydro Electric PowerSecond FallsEC11EskomFirst FallsEC6EskomDeelkraal IGP5.04PrivateWestern Deep Level 45GP4.79PrivateSaaiplaasMP4.59PrivateKloof 1GP4.52PrivateEast DriefonteinGP4.48PrivateStortemelkFS4.47PrivateVaal Reef 3NW/FS4.33PrivatePresident SteynGP4.15PrivateKruisvallei HydroFS4PrivateMerino Power StationFS42010Bethlehem HydroBethlehem hydro Merino plantFS4PrivateElandsrandGP3.83PrivateWestern Deep Level 55GP3.78PrivateVaal Reefs 9NW/FS3.46PrivateBethlehem hydro Sol Plaatje plantGP3PrivateSol Plaatje Power StationFS32009Bethlehem HydroWestern Area 1GP2.97PrivateWestern Deep Level 70GP2.67PrivateLydenburgWC2.6PrivateFriedenheim Hydroelectric Power StationMP2.51987Freidenheim Irrigation BoardNcoraWC2.4PrivateElandsrand Level 53GP2.39PrivateGeduld 2WC2.39PrivateKloof 4WC2.28PrivateNcora Dam Ncora Power StationEC2.1EskomLydenburg Hydroelectric Power StationMP2.12014Thaba Chweu Local MunicipalityElandsrand Level 71GP2.01PrivateFriedenheimWC2PrivateL Ormarins upperWC2PrivateGeduld 1GP1.98PrivateVaal Reefs 1NW/FS1.86PrivateWestern DeepGP1.72PrivateVaal Reefs 2NW/FS1.67PrivatePresident BrandGP1.62PrivateVaal Reef 4NW/FS1.62PrivateKinrossWC1.61PrivateFaure Water Treatment PlantGP1.48PrivateElandsrandGP1.47PrivateWestern Area 2GP1.34PrivateWinkelhaakWC1.32PrivateBakenkop Hydroelectric Power StationMP11950Piet RetiefTotal:2,283

Nuclear

The two reactors at Koeberg are (as of 2017) the only commercial nuclear power plants on the African continent, and account for around 5% of South Africa's electricity production. Low and intermediate waste is disposed of at Vaalputs Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility in the Northern Cape.

Power plant Province Coordinates Capacity(MW) Annualoutput (GWh)Capacityfactor % Datecommissioned Notes Koeberg Nuclear Power Station WC 1,860 13,668 84 1984

Wind power

As of 2025, South Africa has 30 operating wind farms, located in the Eastern, Northern, and Western Cape, with a combined capacity of about 5,000 MW.

The Department of Energy (DOE) implemented the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). This is a tender process consisting of "rounds" where the cheapest tariff and most competitive Economic Development score is awarded a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Eskom (the state-owned utility) as the Off-taker. The National Treasury has fully underwritten the PPAs. The South African Department of Energy allocated 634 MW of wind capacity in bid window 1.

In bid window 2, 562.5 MW capacity was allocated. In bid window 3, 787 MW were allocated. In bid window 4, 676 MW was awarded. In bid window 4 (additional), 687 MW was added.

+Wind farmProvinceCoordinatesTurbine modelPower per turbine (MW)No. of turbinesTotal nameplate capacity (MW)Commission dateDeveloperOperatorOwnerWebsiteAmakhala EmoyeniEastern CapeNordex N1172.456134.42016/05Watt Energy Tata PowerCennergi/NDThe Wind PowerChabaEastern CapeVestas V1123721.52015/09EDF RenewablesEDFEDF CoegaEastern CapeVestas V90 1.8 1 1.8 2010 Electrawinds CookhouseEastern CapeSuzlon S882.1 66 138.6 2014 Wind Prospect ACED / Suzlon Old MutualCoppertonNorthern CapeAcciona3.1534107.12021ElawanElawanElawan Darling Western Cape Fuhrländer FL62

Fuhrländer FL30

Fuhrländer 1.25 0.25 11 13.25 2008 Darling Independent Power Producer DassiesklipWestern CapeSinovel SL90 3 9 27 2014/07 BioTherm Energy GLOBELEQGLOBELEQDorperEastern Cape Nordex N100 2.5 40 100 2014/08 Rainmaker EnergyDorper Wind FarmSumitomo Corporation and Dorper Wind Development (A Rainmaker Energy Company)Dorper Wind FarmExcelsiorWestern CapeGoldwind GW1212.51332.52020GarobNorthern CapeAcciona3.1546144.92021 Gibson Bay Eastern Cape Nordex N90 3 37 111 2017/05 Enel Green PowerEnel Green Power Golden ValleyEastern CapeGoldwind2.548120BioTherm EnergyGoudaWestern Cape Acciona 3 46 138 2015/09 Acciona EnergiaAcciona Energia Acciona Acciona GrassridgeEastern CapeVestas V112 3 20 60 2015EDF RenewablesEDF RenewablesEDFThe Wind PowerHopefieldWestern Cape Vestas V100 1.8 37 66.6 2014 Umoya Energy RMBJeffrey's BayEastern Cape Siemens 2.3 MW 101 2.3 60 138 2014"Globeleq inaugurates South African wind farm", in Renewable Energy Magazine, 15 July 2014 Mainstream Renewable Power Globeleq South Africa Management Services Globeleq Jeffery's Bay Wind FarmKangnasNorthern CapeSiemens 2.3 MW 1082.361140.32020Mainstream Renewable PowerInfinity PowerInfinity PowerKarusaNorthern CapeVestas V1364.2351472022Enel Green PowerEnel Green PowerKhobabNorthern CapeSiemens2.361140.32018Mainstream Renewable PowerInfinity PowerMsenge Emoyeni Wind Power StationEastern CapeGoldwind4.516692024 ACED-IDEAS-Reatile Consortium ACED-IDEAS-Reatile Consortium ACEDKlipheuwel (dismantled)Western Cape Vestas V47

Vestas V66

Jeumont J48 0.66

1.75

0.75 3 3.16 2002 Eskom Generating Division Eskom Loeriesfontein 2Northern CapeSiemens2.361140.32017/07Mainstream Renewable PowerInfinity PowerLongyuan Mulilo De Aar 1 Northern CapeUPC 861.56394.52013Longyuan Mulilo ConsortiumLongyuanLongyuanTimes LiveEnergy.orgLongyuan Mulilo De Aar 2 Northern CapeUPC 861.5961442013Longyuan Mulilo ConsortiumLongyuanLongyuanAdencoEnergy.orgMetroWind Van StadensEastern CapeSinovel39272014MetrowindNoblesfonteinNorthern Cape Vestas V1001.84173.8 2014Iberdrola Renewables Elawan Gestamp Wind NojoliEastern CapeVestas V100244882016/12Enel Green PowerEnel Green PowerEnel Green PowerNoupoortNorthern CapeSiemens 2.3 MW 1082.33580.52016/02Mainstream Renewable PowerInfinity PowerNxubaEastern CapeAcciona3.1547148Enel Green PowerEnel Green PowerOyster BayEastern CapeVestas V1173.4541147.6 Enel Green Power Enel Green PowerPerdekraal Western CapeSiemens SWT-1082.348110.42021Mainstream Renewable PowerInfinity PowerRed Cap KougaEastern CapeNordex N902.53280Red Cap KougaRed Cap KougaRed Cap KougaRoggeveldWestern CapeAcciona AW-1253471472022G7 Renewable EnergiesBuilding EnergyG7 Renewable EnergiesKLK Agriculture SereWestern Cape Siemens SWT-108 2.3 46 105.8 2014 EskomEskomEskom SeritiMpumalanga 1552025 ExpectedSeriti ResourcesSeriti Green EnergySeriti Green EnergySoetwater Northern CapeVestas V117 3.343141.92022Enel Green Power/Pele Green EnergyThe Wind PowerEnel Green Power Pele Green EnergyEnel Green Power/Pele Green Energy/Soetwater Wind Farm Community TrustSAWEA.orgEnel Green powerTsitsikamma Community Eastern CapeVestas V112331952016/03Cennergi, Watt Energy, Tsitsikamma Development TrustVestas Southern Africa (Pty) LtdWaainekEastern CapeVestas V1123824.62015/12EDF RenewablesEDF RenewablesEDF RenewablesWesley–CiskeiEastern CapeVestas V1263.451034.52021EDF Renewables Impofu Wind Power Farms Complex Eastern Cape5.8573302026 Enel Green Power Enel Green PowerWest Coast OneWestern CapeVestas V90247942015/06Engie/WindlabEngie/InvestecTotal3562.31

Solar photovoltaic