African nations are rapidly increasing their adoption of solar technology, with imports of Chinese-made solar panels surging 60% in the 12 months through June, according to data compiled by climate think tank Ember and reported by Bloomberg.
The continent imported 15 gigawatts of solar capacity over the period, up from 9.4 gigawatts a year earlier. South Africa remained the largest buyer, but a total of 20 other countries also recorded record-high purchases. Ember, which analyzed Chinese customs records, said the figures reflect a major turning point for Africa’s energy landscape.
“The take-off of solar in Africa is a pivotal moment,” said Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember.
Nigeria has emerged as the continent’s second-largest importer, overtaking Egypt with 1,721 megawatts of new solar capacity purchased in the past year. Algeria ranked third. Notably, imports outside of South Africa have tripled over the last two years, highlighting how more nations are embracing solar power to ease chronic electricity shortages and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
South Africa’s demand for panels had spiked in 2023, fueled by rolling blackouts from state-owned utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. But with the grid stabilizing in recent months, imports have since slowed.
While Chinese export data provides only a partial picture, analysts suggest the accelerating shift signals that solar could play a transformative role in Africa’s long-term energy security and climate goals.
