Africa's 2025 solar imports set to shatter previous record

July 27, 2025

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African countries are on track to break solar import records in 2025. According to EMBER, a global energy data platform, African countries imported solar panels worth 7,679 MW from China in the first half of 2025, which is 2,000 MW more than they did in the same period in 2024. This comes as a few countries, like Egypt, are now building giga-scale solar projects.

  • Chinese solar PV exports to Africa have more than quadrupled in the last five years, with 2024 marking record imports of 12,943 MW. Growth is widespread across the continent, with 20 countries each importing at least 100 MW.

  • The rise in imports for African countries has been supported not only by growing demand but also by a significant fall in panel prices, which have halved in the last five years, now costing just $0.10 per watt.

  • Our take: Growing demand is a signal that local manufacturing could make economic sense… Read more (2 min)

Solar has gained enough traction in providing cheap and reliable off-grid power to lure various users away from the grid. Street lighting, in particular, is an area that adds strain on African grids by contributing to peak demand. While many countries have partially solarised street lights, Ghana is among the few planning a large-scale implementation.

  • The Ghanaian government announced this week that it has begun installing 23,500 all-in-one solar streetlights across the country, as it aims to reduce 200 MW in grid demand.

  • Street lighting currently accounts for approximately 1-3% of the total electricity use in Africa, a figure that is rapidly increasing due to urbanisation.

  • Our take: Innovative solutions like energy-as-a-service could emerge… Read more (2 min)

Battery swapping stations are emerging as a key solution for urban electric mobility, offering riders speed and convenience. Roam, an electric mobility company in Kenya, is tapping into this market with power partly from the sun through what it calls “Roam Hubs”. By leveraging solar power, it tackles both rider frustrations and reduces significant operational costs.

  • Renewables Rising visited a battery swapping station, situated along Outering Road in Nairobi’s Kariobangi, and spoke with Nancy, a battery swap operator, to gain insights into the company’s solar consumption.

  • She said that while cost savings are not the main goal for their solar power, it has come in handy during blackouts and grid power interruptions, ensuring riders get their batteries powered efficiently.

  • Read the full consumer spotlight here… (2 min)

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