In 2025, Africa achieved remarkable solar growth, led by South Africa and Nigeria. These two nations drove new capacity additions, policy advancements, and private sector investments.
This progress aligns with the findings of the Africa Market Outlook for Solar PV: 2026–2029 report, released by the Global Solar Council (GSC) on Tuesday.
The surge reflects a broader continental shift toward renewable energy. Governments are working to close electricity access gaps, reduce reliance on imported fuels, and meet climate targets.
According to the GSC, 2025 marked a milestone as the year with the highest solar capacity deployment. The continent added 54% more capacity compared to 2024.
The solar growth report emphasizes that solar projects in Africa are not slowing down. Instead, they are gaining momentum, with increasing investments across more countries to meet rising energy demands
What the report is saying
The solar growth report highlights how solar adoption is spreading beyond a handful of early leaders, with multiple countries scaling significant capacity additions in 2025.
“In 2025, eight African countries installed over 100 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity, up from just four the year before, while several more markets came close,” the Global Solar Council stated.
South Africa led the continent, adding 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity.
Nigeria and Egypt ranked second in solar capacity, with 803 MW and 500 MW installed, respectively.
Nearly 44% of the current capacity comes from distributed systems, such as rooftop solar, mini-grids, and commercial or industrial installations. However, official data may not fully capture these contributions.
Key Insights:
- Market Growth: The solar growth report predicts that Africa’s solar market will continue to grow rapidly in the coming years.
- Capacity Potential: The continent’s installed solar capacity could reach 33 GW—over six times the amount expected by 2025.
- Key Drivers: Policy reforms, improved grid infrastructure, innovative financing solutions, and falling technology costs will be crucial in sustaining this growth.
- Expanding Markets: Both utility-scale and distributed solar markets are expected to grow quickly across more African nations.
- Economic Opportunity: Solar energy offers a significant opportunity to drive Africa’s energy transition and economic development, leveraging abundant sunlight and rising energy demands.
