A remarkable surge in solar panel imports has been recorded across Africa, with shipments rising by 60% in the 12 months to June 2025, according to new data from energy think tank Ember. The imports, which reached a record 15,032 MW, have been described as the strongest evidence yet that a solar-driven energy transition is unfolding across the continent.
While the last major surge in imports had been concentrated in South Africa during its 2023 power crisis, the latest increase has been spread across the continent. It has been noted that 20 African countries set new records for solar imports, and 25 countries imported at least 100 MW, up from 15 in the previous year.
Nigeria was reported to have overtaken Egypt as the continent’s second-largest solar importer, with 1,721 MW imported in the past year, while Algeria ranked third at 1,199 MW. Particularly rapid growth was observed in Algeria, where imports rose 33-fold, in Zambia (eightfold), and in Botswana (sevenfold). Several others, including Liberia, Benin, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than tripled their imports.
Read more: Egypt becomes Russia’s top African partner as El-Dabaa nuclear power project gains momentum
If installed, these imports are projected to make significant contributions to electricity generation. In Sierra Leone, the imported capacity could generate power equivalent to 61% of the country’s 2023 electricity output. In Chad, the figure could reach 49%, while Liberia, Somalia, Eritrea, Togo, and Benin could achieve increases of over 10% relative to their reported 2023 generation.
The actual extent of installation, however, remains unknown. Analysts have warned that without robust tracking, the full benefits may not be realized. As was observed by Muhammad Mustafa Amjad of Renewables First, “bottom-up energy transitions fueled by cheap solar are no longer a choice, they are the future. But if installation data is not properly tracked, opportunities for equitable and efficient transition could be lost.”
It has been emphasized that the financial case for solar is compelling. In Nigeria, the savings from reduced diesel use could repay the cost of a solar panel in six months, with even shorter payback periods in several other countries. In nine of the top ten solar-importing states, it was found that the import bill for petroleum products outweighed solar panel imports by 30 to 107 times.
This imbalance highlights both the urgency and the opportunity: solar could reduce dependence on costly fuel imports, ease pressures on foreign exchange reserves, and support cleaner energy security across the continent.
The surge has come against the backdrop of chronic electricity shortages across Africa. It has been estimated that nearly 600 million people remain without access to electricity, while millions more are dependent on unreliable grids and expensive diesel generators. The rapid rise in solar imports has therefore been interpreted as a signal that decentralized, renewable solutions are beginning to gain real traction.
Read more: Russia courts Niger with nuclear power offer as Uranium economy faces strain
It has also been noted that Africa’s solar momentum is taking shape within a global context where the technology has become the cheapest form of new electricity generation. With solar module costs having fallen by more than 80% in the past decade, opportunities are being opened up for African countries to leapfrog traditional fossil-heavy development pathways.
Despite the positive trajectory, experts have stressed that data gaps remain a major obstacle. Comprehensive figures on installation rates, grid integration, and project financing are scarce. Dave Jones, Ember’s Chief Analyst, remarked that “the take-off of solar in Africa is a pivotal moment, but without stronger research and reporting, the full potential of the continent’s renewable future could be undermined.”
Policy frameworks have also been described as uneven. While countries such as Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco have put in place policies to scale renewables, others remain constrained by weak regulatory environments, limited grid infrastructure, and financing barriers.
It has been suggested that Africa is not yet the “next Pakistan”, a reference to the South Asian country’s explosive solar growth in the past two years, but change could accelerate rapidly if supported by deliberate policy and investment. The continent’s solar imports are still considered early evidence of a wider transition, one that will require coordination between governments, the private sector, and international financiers.
As the continent’s demand for electricity grows alongside rapid urbanization and industrialization, solar power is being positioned as both a solution to persistent energy poverty and a tool for climate resilience. Whether this moment represents the beginning of a sustained solar revolution, however, will depend on how effectively these imports are converted into real, installed capacity on the ground.
