Solar Power Surges in Africa Amidst Political Shifts

Across Africa, imports of solar panels increased by 50% in one year, signaling a potential energy revolution. According to an analysis by the energy think tank Ember, renewable sources surpassed coal in the African electricity mix in 2025, rising to 26% while coal fell to 24%.

This growth isn’t limited to South Africa, twenty countries established new import records, and twenty-five exceeded 100 megawatts of imported capacity. The increase is driven by economics, as solar panels are becoming significantly cheaper than diesel fuel.

A 420-watt Chinese solar panel costs approximately $60 in Nigeria and generates an average of 550 kilowatt-hours annually, while the same expenditure on diesel yields only 275 kilowatt-hours. Ember estimates that if all panels imported into Sierra Leone were installed, they could generate 61% of the country’s 2023 electricity production, and 49% in Chad. While data on actual installations remains limited, and grid stability is a concern given the decentralized nature of the installations, this trend could avert reliance on gas as a transitional fuel for development.