Southern Africa
Where solar reshaped renewable power capacity in Southern Africa
South Africa added 3,081 megawatts of renewable power capacity between the ends of 2024 and 2025, including 2,197 MW of solar. Namibia recorded 389 MW of solar by the end of 2025, more than half its renewable total.
Sources checked
- Botswana169 MW
- Lesotho104 MW
- Mozambique2,444 MW
- Namibia747 MW
- South Africa16,598 MW
- Zambia3,536 MW
Natural Earth land outlines and dashed land boundaries.
Switch between renewable total, solar and solar share. Pins represent countries using capital locations.
Solar accounted for most of South Africa’s net increase
Renewable capacity increased from 13,517 MW in 2024 to 16,598 MW in 2025. Solar rose from 9,058 to 11,255 MW, and wind from 3,442 to 4,326 MW. The increase in these two categories accounts for the net change in the rounded totals. Source 1
Botswana and Namibia moved quickly from different baselines
Botswana went from 66 MW to 169 MW of solar. Namibia went from 240 MW to 389 MW, as its renewable total moved from 598 MW to 747 MW. Botswana’s solar and renewable totals are equal at the precision published for 2025. Source 1
Solar had a smaller share in Zambia and Mozambique
Zambia’s solar reached 328 MW out of 3,536 MW of renewables. Mozambique reported 175 MW out of 2,444 MW. Their renewable systems contain substantial capacity from technologies other than solar. Lesotho’s solar figure was 29 MW out of a 104 MW total. Source 1
Capacity measures the size of installed equipment
Megawatts express generating capability. Electricity produced over a period is measured in megawatt-hours and depends on factors including weather, availability and dispatch. The solar share divides solar MW by renewable MW and gives no share of the entire power system. Source 1