Africa leads growth in solar energy as demand spreads beyond traditional
markets, report says
[February 13, 2026] By
ALLAN OLINGO
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Africa was the world’s fastest-growing solar
market in 2025, defying a global slowdown and reshaping where the
momentum in renewable energy is concentrated, according to an industry
report released in late last month.
The report by the Africa Solar Industry Association says the continent's
solar installed capacity expanded 17% in 2025, boosted by imports of
Chinese-made solar panels. Global solar power capacity rose 23% in 2025
to 618 GW, slowing from a 44% increase in 2024.
“Chinese companies are the main drivers in Africa’s green transition,”
said Cynthia Angweya-Muhati, acting CEO of the Kenya Renewable Energy
Association. “They are aggressively investing in and building robust
supply chains in Africa green energy ecosystem.”
Some of that capacity has yet to be rolled out. Africa has only 23.4
gigawatts peak (GWp) of working solar capacity even though nearly 64 GWp
of solar equipment has been shipped to the continent since 2017. A
gigawatt peak represents 1 billion watts of maximum, optimum power
output under ideal conditions.
“Africa's growth is driven by changing policies and enabling conditions
in a number of countries, "said John Van Zuylen, CEO of the Africa Solar
Industry Association.
“Solar energy has moved beyond a handful of early adopters to become a
broader continental priority,” he said recently on the sidelines of the
Inter Solar Africa summit in Nairobi. “What we are seeing is not
temporary. It is policies aligning with market dynamics.”
Historically, South Africa dominated solar imports in Africa, at one
point accounting for roughly half of all panels shipped to the
continent. The latest data show its share has slipped below a third as
demand surged elsewhere. Last year, 20 African nations set new annual
records for solar imports, as 25 countries imported a total of at least
100 megawatts of capacity.
Nigeria has overtaken Egypt as Africa's second-largest importer as solar
energy and battery storage provide a practical and affordable
alternative to diesel generators and unreliable grid power. In Algeria,
solar imports soared more than 30-fold year-on-year. Imports also surged
in Zambia and Botswana.
At least 23 African countries, including South Africa, Tunisia, Kenya,
Chad and the Central African Republic, are now generating over 5% of
their electricity from solar energy, the report said.
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Mark Munyua, CP solar's technician, examines solar panels on the
roof of a company in Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Brian
Inganga, File)
 Prices have fallen both for solar
panels and batteries, mostly from China, enabling households and
businesses to rely on solar plus batteries for round-the-clock
electricity, the report said. Battery storage costs in Africa fell
to $112 per kilowatt-hour in 2025 from an average of $144 per
kilowatt-hour in 2023 as improved technology made storage systems
more flexible and longer lasting.
“This ever-decreasing price of storage has game-changing
implications for Africa, which has a dire need for stable and
baseload power,” said Van Zuyken.
The gradual removal of diesel subsidies in Nigeria in the past two
years also has helped accelerate adoption of solar energy. The
policy was implemented sector by sector to cushion its impact,
making diesel increasingly expensive and nudging businesses and
households toward solar. In September, Nigeria announced plans for a
1 GW solar panel factory, the largest in West Africa. Similar
facilities are under construction in Egypt, South Africa and
Ethiopia.
As Africa moves to build its own manufacturing capacity, the
industry is looking to China to transfer knowhow to help alleviate
Africa’s dependence on imported equipment and technology.
Jobs won't be confined to manufacturing.
“The solar jobs boom is occurring in services including
installation, maintenance, distribution and financing, where
thousands of small and medium enterprises are emerging to meet
rising demand,” Van Zuylen said.
Unlike regions such as the Middle East, where governments publish
clear 10 or 20-year energy roadmaps, many African markets lack
consistent policy signals. So, uncertainty over policies remains a
challenge. Solar firms operating across Africa say unpredictable tax
regimes, shifting import duties and unclear long-term energy plans
undermine investor confidence.
“The problem is not the opportunity. It’s visibility,” said Amos
Wemanya, senior analyst on renewable energy at Powershift Africa.
“If a government announces a plan, companies need to trust that it
will remain in place.”
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