Africa is entering a new phase in its energy transition journey. The past year has provided the first hard evidence of a continent-wide take-off in solar power generation, says energy think tank Ember.

What: An analysis by Ember shows record-breaking solar panel imports from China across Africa.

Why: Such imports could significantly boost power generation in many African countries and will provide a lot of electricity.

What next: The potential is transformative: reduced reliance on costly fossil fuels, accelerated electrification, greater energy security and cleaner, more affordable power for millions.

The African continent is beginning to show the first clear signs of a solar power boom. According to an analysis by UK-based independent energy think tank Ember, imports of solar panels from China into Africa have surged dramatically over the past year, pointing to the start of a transformation in how the continent generates electricity.

While solar has long played an important role in small-scale and off-grid applications, the scale of the recent increase in panel imports suggests that solar power could soon take on a much larger role in Africa’s energy systems.

China, which manufactures around 80% of the world’s solar panels, dominates global exports. In a report published on August 26, Ember has tracked Chinese customs data for solar modules, converting the value of these exports into megawatts (MW) of capacity. The results reveal that in the 12 months to June 2025, Africa imported 15,032 MW of solar panels from China – a 60% increase compared to the preceding year.

Sharp growth

Currently, Egypt and South Africa are the only two countries on the continent where installed solar capacity is measured in gigawatts, and not megawatts. However, Ember points out that this could soon change. According to the report, imports outside South Africa nearly tripled over two years, from 3,734 MW to 11,248 MW.

This shift has occurred across the continent. A total of 20 African countries set new records for solar panel imports during the year to June 2025, says Ember. Moreover, 25 countries imported at least 100 MW, up from only 15 countries the year before.

Growth has been particularly sharp in countries such as Algeria, where imports grew 33-fold, and Zambia, where imports rose eightfold. Botswana, Sudan, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Benin, Angola and Ethiopia also saw their imports multiply several times over. South Africa remained the largest importer, but Nigeria overtook Egypt for second place, while Algeria rose rapidly to third.

If installed, these solar panels could transform electricity access in many countries. In Sierra Leone, imports over the past year equate to 61% of the country’s entire 2023 electricity generation, says the energy think tank. Chad’s imports are equivalent to almost half its total generation, while Liberia, Somalia, Eritrea, Togo and Benin would all see boosts of 10% or more. Altogether, 16 countries would see increases above 5%. Although the continent-wide share remains modest, this is largely because South Africa and Egypt account for over half of Africa’s electricity supply, making national contributions in smaller countries proportionally more dramatic.

Energy security

According to Ember, the implications for energy security across the continent are profound. Many African countries remain heavily reliant on imported refined petroleum products, particularly diesel for generators. Research by Wood Mackenzie in 2022 showed that in 17 African countries, diesel generator capacity exceeded on-grid capacity – including 28 GW in Nigeria, 10 GW in Ghana and 8 GW in Kenya. Solar panel imports into these three countries alone totalled 2.5 GW in the past year.

The economics strongly favour solar, says the think tank. In Nigeria, a solar panel costing $60 can generate 550 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, whereas the same expenditure on diesel would only produce half as much electricity. The payback period for solar against diesel is therefore as little as six months, and even shorter in countries where diesel prices are higher.

Wider benefits

Solar panel imports also come with wider benefits, Ember points out. By reducing diesel consumption, countries can lower oil import bills, cut exposure to fuel price volatility and improve balance of payments. At the same time, more reliable and cleaner electricity supports industrial growth, powers services and improves household welfare. According to the report, the value of petroleum imports exceeded solar panel imports , for all of the top ten solar importers by factors ranging from 30 to over 100, underlining the scale of potential savings if solar deployment continues.

While Africa currently relies almost entirely on imported panels, domestic manufacturing is beginning to emerge. Morocco recently doubled its production capacity to 1 GW per year, while South Africa maintains a similar output. Egypt is on the verge of a major expansion, with three new large-scale factories due online between 2025 and 2026, including a 3-GW facility from EliTe Solar, a 2-GW plant from Sunrev Solar (Chinese private solar manufacturers), and a 4 GW-project by UAE's state -run renewable energy developer Masdar. These developments could gradually reduce Africa’s dependence on imports.

Structural trend

Ember views Africa’s surge in solar panel imports as part of a structural trend rather than a temporary spike. Imports hit a record in December 2024 and have stayed high since. Although Africa’s growth is far behind Pakistan – which imported more panels in a year than the entire continent despite its smaller population – Ember notes that Pakistan’s imports tripled within a year, suggesting Africa’s solar uptake could accelerate just as rapidly.

Much of the growth so far appears to be in distributed solar, such as rooftop systems, rather than utility-scale projects. According to the report, this may reflect the realities of African energy markets, where weak grids and widespread diesel generator use create strong demand for decentralised solutions. Nevertheless, utility-scale projects are also expected to play a growing role, particularly in countries with ambitious renewable energy programmes.

More research needed

Despite the promising data, Ember emphasises that more research is needed to track solar’s expansion across the continent. Official statistics often underestimate electricity generation, particularly from non-grid sources, making precise comparisons difficult. Reliable, country-level data on solar deployment will be crucial to understand the full scale and impact of this transformation.

Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember, underscores the significance of the continent’s record -breaking growth of solar panel imports. “The take-off of solar in Africa is a pivotal moment. This report is a call to action, urging stronger research, analysis and reporting on solar’s rise – to ensure the world’s cheapest electricity source fulfils its vast potential to transform the African continent,” says Jones.

According to the energy think tank, rising solar panel imports signal Africa’s shift to renewable power generation. While the scale still lags behind some global leaders, Africa’s solar revolution has begun – and the coming years may determine just how far and how fast it will go.