Africa's solar imports rise 60% as cheap Chinese panels spur growth

A new wave of solar power is sweeping across Africa, driven by a surge in imports of inexpensive Chinese panels that analysts say could mark the early stages of a continent-wide shift toward cheaper, cleaner electricity. In the 12 months to June 2025, imports of solar panels to Africa rose by about 60 percent, reaching roughly 15,000 megawatts of capacity. The jump comes from a broad swath of countries, not just traditional hubs, with 20 nations setting new import records and 25 importing at least 100 MW, signaling a diversified demand that spans utility-scale projects and roof-top electrification.

The breadth of the increase is striking. While South Africa remains the largest single importer, other nations—Nigeria, Algeria, Zambia and several others—have driven much of the expansion. Nigeria overtook Egypt to become the continent’s second-largest importer, with about 1,721 MW, and Algeria’s imports surged roughly 33-fold to about 1,199 MW. In several countries, the growth was transformative: Algeria, for instance, is moving ahead with large-scale solar farms, while others such as Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Angola and Ethiopia tripled or more their...