Gazetted in October 2025 after much to-ing and froing, the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025 breaks down the proposed energy mix into two scenarios, depending on what kind of energy capacity the country ends up creating.
Still, GreenCape’s National Renewable Energy Market Intelligence Report 2026 says the IRP update signals a long-term national shift towards higher renewable energy allocation, with the proposed energy plan including:
- 18.4 GW of new solar PV,
- 35.7 GW of new wind, and
- 4.5 GW of new BESS by 2042.
“This confirms asustained, multi-decadal pipeline of public and private procurement, justifying long-term capital deployment in the South African market,” according to GreenCape.
Coal
South Africa’s installed generation capacity of 42GW remains dominated by coal-fired power, with the IRP2025 putting coal at more than 75% of the energy mix. Under Eskom’s Generation Continued Operations shutdown plan, the phased 50-year end-of-life of its coal fleet is supposed to start in 2029.
The plan indicates a reduction of 8GW of coal capacity between 2029 and 2030, followed by a further decline of 15GW between 2034 and 2042, according to the IRP2025.
Gas and diesel
The six diesel-fuelled open cycle gas turbine plants include Eskom’s four, with a combined 2.4GW, and two privately owned peaker plants that provide 1GW. Two of Eskom’s plants reach end of life in 2025–2026 and the other two in the mid-2040s. The two private plants are due to expire in 2030–2031.
The Gas IPPPP Bid Window 1 offered… [download the Energy & Storage Volume to read further]
