The analysis shows that Africa’s solar panel imports set a new record in the 12 months to June 2025, reaching 15 GW – a 60% increase on the 9.4 GW imported in the preceding 12 months.

The last time imports surged was in 2023, when South Africa solar imports picked up as the power crisis hit its peak. However, this time is different, says Ember, as much of the pick-up in the last 12 months happened outside South Africa. Some 20 countries set a new record for the imports of solar panels in the 12 months to June 2025. And 25 countries imported at least 100 MW, up from 15 countries during the previous year, says the report.

In the last 12 months, Nigeria overtook Egypt to become the second-largest importer with 1.7 GW of solar panel imports in the past year, while Algeria ranked third with 12 GW.

Some countries recorded very high growth rates. Algeria’s imports rose 33-fold, Zambia eightfold, Botswana sevenfold and Sudan sixfold, while Liberia, DRC, Benin, Angola and Ethiopia all more than tripled their imports.

However, despite these record imports of solar panels, there is no data to know how many have been installed and commissioned so far, says Ember.

The analysis finds that recent imports could nevertheless make a major contribution to electricity generation in many African countries. If fully installed, imports in Sierra Leone in the last 12 months could generate electricity equivalent to 61% of reported electricity generation in 2023, while in Chad the figure is 49%. Liberia, Somalia, Eritrea, Togo and Benin could see generation rise by more than 10% of reported 2023 generation.

The report also describes how solar panel imports may actually reduce overall energy imports. The savings from avoiding diesel can repay the cost of a solar panel within six months in Nigeria, and even less in other countries.  

Ember’s Chief Analyst Dave Jones stressed the importance of the growth: ‘The take-off of solar in Africa is a pivotal moment. This report is a call to action, urging stronger research, analysis and reporting on solar’s rise to ensure the world’s cheapest electricity source fulfils its vast potential to transform the African continent’.

However, further evidence is urgently needed to understand the rapid rise in solar across Africa and its potential to expand electricity systems, adds Ember.

Two recent announcements serve to illustrate the scale of solar growth currently being seen in Africa. First, in July, the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, managed by the African Development Bank, committed a €6mn concessional finance package for the development of the 18 MW Dédougou Solar Power Plant in Burkina Faso, marking a significant milestone towards increasing the country’s energy generation capacity. The project aligns with the African Development Bank-led Desert-to-Power initiative, which aims to turn the Sahel region into the world’s largest solar power zone. The project will operate under a 25-year power purchase agreement with national Utility SONABEL.

Second, in June, Norway-based renewable energy company Scatec reached financial close for the Obelisk hybrid solar and battery storage project in Egypt. Project financing comprises $480mn provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, African Development Bank and British International Investment. The project will be constructed in two phases. The first phase of 561 MW solar + 100 MW/200 MWh battery storage is targeted to reach commercial operational in 1H2026, with the second phase of 564 MW solar in the 2H2026. The energy will be sold under a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company.