Solar & wind farm atlas · Sub-Saharan Africa
Solar & wind farms in South Africa
Every utility-scale solar park and wind farm in South Africa tracked by Global Energy Monitor: operating, under construction and planned.
Operating solar + wind
9.6 GW
#23 of 222 countries
Solar PV + CSP
5.4 GW
#22 worldwide
Onshore wind
4.3 GW
#27 for wind
Under construction
4.4 GW
planned: 36.4 GW
Facilities tracked
420
all statuses
Open on the interactive atlas →
Solar PVOnshore windOffshore windCSPBuilding / planned
South Africa has 9.6 GW of utility-scale solar and wind capacity in operation across 420 tracked facilities, ranking #23 of 222 countries in this atlas.
The fleet is balanced between solar (5.4 GW) and wind (4.3 GW).
The pipeline is substantial: 4.4 GW under construction and 36.4 GW in pre-construction or announced, equal to 423% of today’s operating fleet.
About 3.8 GW (39%) of the operating capacity started up in 2021 or later; the busiest year was 2014, with 1.5 GW commissioned.
The largest concentrations are in Northern Cape (4.7 GW), Eastern Cape (1.6 GW), Western Cape (1.4 GW).
Explore South Africa on the live map
See also: South Africa energy profile for the electricity mix, carbon intensity and history.
Capacity commissioned per year
Operating facilities by first start year (MW). Projects without a known start year are not included.
Largest operating solar & wind farms in South Africa
Map →| Facility | Type | Capacity | Since | Region | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenhardt solar farm | Solar PV | 540 MW | 2024 | Kenhardt, Northern Cape | H1 Holdings Pty Ltd |
| Loeriesfontein wind farm | Onshore wind | 278 MW | 2017 | Hantam Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Lekela Power |
| Upington solar farm | Solar PV | 258 MW | 2020 | Kai !Garib Local Municipality, Northern Cape | H1 Holdings Pty Ltd |
| Longyuan Mulilo De Aar Maanhaarberg wind farm | Onshore wind | 235 MW | 2017 | Emthanjeni Local Municipality, Northern Cape | China Longyuan Power Group Corp Ltd |
| Grootfontein PV solar farm | Solar PV | 225 MW | 2025 | Witzenberg Local Municipality, Western Cape | H1 Holdings Pty Ltd |
| Harmony Free State Solar Plant | Solar PV | 167 MW | 2023 | Welkom, Free State | Harmony Gold Mining Co Ltd |
| Springbok solar farm (South Africa) | Solar PV | 150 MW | 2025 | Virginia, Free State | SOLA Group |
| Oyster Bay wind farm | Onshore wind | 148 MW | 2021 | Kouga Local Municipality, Eastern Cape | Enel Green Power SpA |
| Roggeveld wind farm | Onshore wind | 147 MW | 2022 | Matjiesfontein, Western Cape | Red Rocket South Africa Pty Ltd |
| Garob wind farm | Onshore wind | 145 MW | 2018 | Siyathemba Local Municipality, Northern Cape | — |
| Brandvalley wind farm | Onshore wind | 144 MW | 2025 | Laingsburg Local Municipality, Western Cape | — |
| Rietkloof wind farm | Onshore wind | 144 MW | 2025 | Laingsburg Local Municipality, Western Cape | — |
| Kangnas wind farm | Onshore wind | 140 MW | 2020 | Springbok, Northern Cape | Lekela Power |
| Karusa wind farm | Onshore wind | 140 MW | 2022 | Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Enel Green Power SpA |
| Khobab wind farm | Onshore wind | 140 MW | 2017 | Hantam Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Lekela Power |
| San Kraal wind farm | Onshore wind | 140 MW | 2025 | Nama Khoi Local Municipality, Northern Cape | EDF Renewables |
| Cookhouse wind farm | Onshore wind | 139 MW | 2014 | Blue Crane Route Local Municipality, Eastern Cape | Cookhouse Wind Farm |
| Nxuba wind farm | Onshore wind | 139 MW | 2020 | Blue Crane Route Local Municipality, Eastern Cape | Enel Green Power SpA |
| Soetwater wind farm | Onshore wind | 139 MW | 2021 | Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Enel Green Power SpA |
| Gouda wind farm | Onshore wind | 138 MW | 2015 | Drakenstein Local Municipality, Western Cape | Aveng |
| Jeffrey's Bay wind farm | Onshore wind | 138 MW | 2011 | Kouga Local Municipality, Eastern Cape | Globeleq Africa Investments Ltd |
| Droogfontein solar farm | Solar PV | 136 MW | 2014 | Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Community Owned - Letsatsi Borutho Trust |
| Merak 3 solar plant | Solar PV | 136 MW | 2024 | Ditsobotla Local Municipality, North West | SOLA Group |
| Amakhala Emoyeni wind farm | Onshore wind | 134 MW | 2016 | Nxuba Local Municipality, Eastern Cape | Cennergi Pty Ltd |
| Merak 2 solar plant | Solar PV | 130 MW | 2024 | Ditsobotla Local Municipality, North West | SOLA Group |
| Golden Valley (South Africa) wind farm | Onshore wind | 120 MW | 2018 | Blue Crane Route Local Municipality, Eastern Cape | — |
| Gibson Bay wind farm | Onshore wind | 111 MW | 2017 | Kouga Local Municipality, Eastern Cape | Enel Green Power SpA |
| Perdekraal East wind farm | Onshore wind | 110 MW | 2021 | Witzenberg Local Municipality, Western Cape | Lekela Power |
| Copperton wind farm | Onshore wind | 102 MW | 2021 | Siyathemba Local Municipality, Northern Cape | — |
| Ilanga 1 Solar Thermal Power Plant | Concentrated solar | 100 MW | 2018 | ǁKhara Hais Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Ltd |
| KaXu Solar One Thermosolar Plant | Concentrated solar | 100 MW | 2015 | Khâi-Ma Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Community Owned - KaXu Community Trust |
| Kathu CSP Solar Park | Concentrated solar | 100 MW | 2018 | Gamagara Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Investec |
| REDSTONE CSP solar plant | Concentrated solar | 100 MW | 2024 | Tsantsabane Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Old Mutual Ltd |
| Xina Solar One Thermosolar Plant | Concentrated solar | 100 MW | 2017 | Khâi-Ma Local Municipality, Northern Cape | ENGIE SA |
| Dorper wind farm | Onshore wind | 100 MW | 2012 | Inkwanca Local Municipality, Eastern Cape | Dorper Wind Farm (RF) Pty Ltd |
| Sere wind farm | Onshore wind | 100 MW | 2015 | Matzikama Local Municipality, Western Cape | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd |
| Free State Province Solar PV Plant | Solar PV | 98 MW | 2025 | Free State | Mainstream Renewable Power |
| Jasper Solar Power Plant | Solar PV | 96 MW | 2014 | Tsantsabane Local Municipality, Northern Cape | SolarReserve |
| Tsitsikamma Community wind farm | Onshore wind | 95 MW | 2016 | Kou-Kamma Local Municipality, Eastern Cape | Exxaro Resources Ltd |
| Sishen Solar Plant | Solar PV | 94 MW | 2014 | Gamagara Local Municipality, Northern Cape | Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH) |
Biggest projects in the pipeline
| Project | Type | Status | Capacity | Expected | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JER Green Hydrogen Solar PV Project (South Africa) | Solar PV | Announced | 12 GW | — | — |
| Mohau solar farm | Solar PV | Pre-construction | 2.2 GW | — | Reddersburg, Free State |
| Coega Green Ammonia Plant solar farm | Solar PV | Pre-construction | 1.4 GW | 2028 | Eastern Cape |
| Keimoes North solar farm | Solar PV | Announced | 1.2 GW | — | Keimoes, Northern Cape |
| Mpumalanga solar farm | Solar PV | Pre-construction | 1 GW | — | Mpumalanga |
| Carissa wind farm | Onshore wind | Pre-construction | 1 GW | 2029 | Beaufort West, Western Cape |
| Keimoes South solar farm | Solar PV | Announced | 850 MW | — | Keimoes, Northern Cape |
| Gagasi offshore wind farm | Offshore wind | Announced | 810 MW | 2029 | Richards Bay, Kwazulu-Natal |
| Merafong solar farm | Solar PV | Pre-construction | 798 MW | — | Gauteng |
| Letsa Solar Cluster solar farm | Solar PV | Pre-construction | 780 MW | — | Lephalale, Limpopo |
| Kroonstad PV Cluster solar farm | Solar PV | Announced | 740 MW | — | Free State |
| Nuweveld wind farm | Onshore wind | Pre-construction | 720 MW | — | Loxton, Northern Cape |
| Virginia Solar Park | Solar PV | Under construction | 485 MW | 2026 | Free State |
| Broadlands solar farm | Solar PV | Announced | 480 MW | — | Polokwane, Limpopo |
| Nkwe Solar Cluster solar farm | Solar PV | Pre-construction | 480 MW | — | Masilonyana, Free State |
| Onderstepoort solar farm | Solar PV | Pre-construction | 410 MW | — | Phatsima |
| Khauta Solar PV Facility | Solar PV | Pre-construction | 405 MW | 2027 | Welkom, Free State |
| Overberg wind farm | Onshore wind | Under construction | 380 MW | — | Western Cape |
| SunCentral solar farm | Solar PV | Under construction | 342 MW | — | Northern Cape |
| Impofu wind farm | Onshore wind | Under construction | 330 MW | 2026 | Eastern Cape |
Top regions (operating)
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest solar farm in South Africa?
The largest operating solar facility in South Africa in this dataset is Kenhardt solar farm (Kenhardt, Northern Cape), with about 540 MW, in operation since 2024.
What is the largest wind farm in South Africa?
The largest operating wind facility is Loeriesfontein wind farm (Hantam Local Municipality, Northern Cape), at about 278 MW, operating since 2017.
How much solar capacity does South Africa have?
Utility-scale solar facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor total 5.4 GW in operation in South Africa (#22 worldwide in this atlas), plus 2.4 GW under construction. Rooftop and small solar systems are not included, so national statistics including them are usually higher.
How much wind power capacity does South Africa have?
4.3 GW of wind farms are operating (4.3 GW onshore), ranking #27 in this atlas, with 2 GW under construction.
How many solar and wind farms are there in South Africa?
420 facilities are recorded, including operating, under-construction, planned, shelved and cancelled projects: 334 solar PV, 77 onshore wind, 1 offshore wind and 8 concentrated solar.
Model a plant here. Simulate a solar park at Pretoria with real NASA hourly weather in the solar calculator, or check the wind resource.
Nearby countries
Kenya 925 MWAngola 573 MWGhana 376 MWSenegal 335 MWEthiopia 326 MWZambia 293 MWNamibia 283 MWMauritania 260 MWDjibouti 224 MWBurkina Faso 219 MW