Recently, the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) released new data indicating that the African solar market is experiencing rapid development.
As of the first half of 2025, the operational installed capacity across the African continent has surpassed 20 GWp, with over 10 GWp of projects currently under construction. Solar power in Africa is not only growing steadily but also accelerating in pace.
Approximately 40,000 solar projects are in various stages of development across Africa, covering large-scale ground-mounted power plants, commercial and industrial projects, microgrids, and residential solar systems. Some countries have also included residential projects in their statistics, demonstrating the deployment of solar energy across diverse application scenarios in Africa.
Regional Distribution and New Installations
South Africa: Remains the core market for solar energy in Africa, accounting for about half of the continent’s total installed capacity. It also leads in under-construction capacity, representing 28% of the total.
North Africa: Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia follow closely, collectively forming the top four solar markets in Africa.
Other Southern African Countries: Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia saw significant new installations in the first half of 2025, while Senegal added 54 MWp.
Algeria: Launched 20 projects totaling 3 GW, with several expected to be operational by the end of 2025.
Currently, over 10 GWp of solar capacity is under construction across the African continent. Large-scale ground-mounted power plants account for approximately 70% of this capacity. While the market was dominated by commercial and industrial solar projects post-pandemic, large-scale ground-mounted plants are now experiencing a rapid resurgence, reflecting a strong overall market recovery.
The distribution of projects across Africa has also become more balanced. Algeria, Egypt, Angola, Tunisia, and Zambia, along with South Africa, account for 75% of the projects under construction. This indicates that solar energy in Africa is expanding from a few core markets to more countries.
