Africa: Record solar panel surge ignites opportunity

Africa’s energy future is being rewritten, panel by panel

According to energy think-tank Ember, solar panel imports into Africa hit an all-time high in the 12 months to June 2025, reaching 15,032MW. That represents a dramatic 60% increase from the 9,379MW imported in the previous year.

This surge is the clearest evidence yet of large-scale solar adoption sweeping across the continent and should not be viewed as merely a statistical once-off occurrence.

The shift is broad-based, spanning nearly every country in Africa, and points to a structural trend that could redefine energy access, affordability and even economic resilience.

With global supply chains aligning and technology costs falling, Africa’s solar leap is now a question of how much faster it will grow.

Cover photo: Solar panels being installed at the Upper Blinkwater project in South Africa. Source: by the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism