Recent research released by the UK-based climate and energy think tank Ember reveals that African countries have experienced a record surge in solar panel imports over the past year. This trend indicates that the continent is rapidly advancing its renewable energy development, aiming to access cheap and clean electricity while reducing its reliance on imported fossil fuels.
The data shows that between June 2024 and 2025, global solar panel exports to Africa surged by 60% compared to the previous year, with a total imported capacity exceeding 15 gigawatts. Unlike the growth patterns in 2022 and 2023, which were largely driven by imports to South Africa, this upward trend has spread across the entire continent. Twenty African countries set new import records, while 25 countries imported more than 100 megawatts of panels. South Africa remained the largest importer, accounting for approximately a quarter of the total imports. Nigeria followed with 1,721 megawatts, while Algeria ranked third with 1,199 megawatts, making up about one-tenth of the total.
Over the past two years, solar panel imports to African countries other than South Africa have more than tripled. Researchers estimate that if all the solar panels imported in the past year were installed, the imported capacity in 16 countries would account for at least 5% of their current electricity generation. In Sierra Leone, the imported panels could generate over 60% of the country’s current electricity needs.
Amos Wemanya from the Kenyan energy think tank Power Shift Africa noted, “Africa’s just energy transition is no longer just a vision—it is now becoming a reality. This shift has tremendous potential to reshape our climate resilience and drive development.” Researchers, including Jones, mentioned that the surge in imports is driven by both large-scale solar installations under construction and small-scale distributed solar facilities on rooftops and farms. Across Africa, people are actively seeking more affordable and reliable energy sources compared to national grids. A similar trend has been observed in Pakistan, where rooftop solar installations have exploded in recent years due to declining solar panel costs.
Despite this promising trend, it is important to note that nearly half of Africa’s population—approximately 600 million people—still lack access to reliable electricity, and the continent’s solar development lags behind other regions of the world. Therefore, African countries continue to actively work to attract renewable energy investments. As Wemanya stated, “The real challenge we face is how to translate this growth into long-term benefits by adjusting financing, policies, and developing local industries. This will ensure that clean energy is not only accessible but also reliable and affordable, benefiting all Africans.”
