Eswatini energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in Eswatini reached 610 GWh in 2024. More than half of it, 57.4%, came from hydropower; bioenergy was a distant second with 34.4%.
The power system is very small (under 1 TWh a year), so it is not included in share-based world rankings. A single plant can change its mix dramatically from one year to the next.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 0.35 | 57.4% | +9.5 |
| Bioenergy | 0.21 | 34.4% | −13.5 |
| Solar | 0.03 | 4.9% | +4.9 |
| Coal | 0.02 | 3.3% | −0.9 |
| Total | 0.61 | 100% |
Eswatini: electricity in context
Electricity generation in Eswatini reached 610 GWh in 2024. That is similar to Bermuda. More than half of it, 57.4%, came from hydropower; bioenergy was a distant second with 34.4%.
96.7% of the country’s power came from renewable sources. This puts it 63 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Africa (24.7%). The carbon intensity of electricity is 131 g CO₂e/kWh; the global average is 458 g/kWh. That is a very low-carbon power system.
Over the past decade hydropower added more generation than any other source (+120 GWh since 2014, plus 9.5 percentage points of share). Overall, the renewable share has barely moved over ten years (a change of under one percentage point). Carbon intensity dropped from 167 to 131 g/kWh, a 21% cut.
Coal supplies 3.3% of electricity. That is roughly unchanged on 2014. The peak was 8.3% in 2016.
Wind and solar together provided 4.9% of electricity (solar 4.9%, wind 0%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 24 kWh of solar electricity a year, versus a global average of 338 kWh. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2021.
Eswatini generates 491 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 13% of the global average. Imports cover around 63% of demand: Eswatini bought 1 TWh more electricity than it exported.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Eswatini against the world and Africa averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 5,517 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Eswatini
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 6 utility-scale plants in Eswatini with a combined capacity of 0.1 GW. Hydro plants account for the largest slice (54% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Lupohlo (21 MW, Hydro). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lupohlo | Hydro | 21 | — | — |
| 2 | Simunye Mill | Biomass | 17 | — | — |
| 3 | Edwaleni | Hydro | 15 | — | — |
| 4 | Maguga Dam | Hydro | 15 | — | — |
| 5 | Mhlume Mill | Biomass | 14 | — | — |
| 6 | Ubombo Mill | Biomass | 13 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 6 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Eswatini
10 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 15 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 95 MW under construction or planned.
How does Eswatini compare?
Eswatini next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | 96.7% | 96.7% | 3.3% | 131 | 491 | 0.6 | — | |
| South Africa | 13.6% | 17.8% | 82.2% | 699 | 3,749 | 243 | Compare | |
| Mozambique | 83.4% | 83.4% | 16.6% | 129 | 571 | 19.8 | Compare | |
| Zimbabwe | 57.1% | 57.1% | 42.9% | 384 | 617 | 10.3 | Compare | |
| Botswana | 0.3% | 0.3% | 99.7% | 851 | 1,361 | 3.4 | Compare | |
| Zambia | 87.5% | 87.5% | 12.5% | 120 | 925 | 19.7 | Compare | |
| Malawi | 95.6% | 95.6% | 4.4% | 55 | 85 | 1.8 | Compare | |
| Africa average | 24.7% | 25.5% | 74.5% | 544 | 635 | 962 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Eswatini
Eswatini energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Eswatini is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Eswatini?
How clean is the electricity in Eswatini?
How much electricity does Eswatini use per person?
How much solar power does Eswatini produce?
Does Eswatini import electricity?
More countries in Africa
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.