The global solar energy market achieved a historic milestone in 2024, adding an estimated 503 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity, bringing the total installed capacity to over 2 terawatts (TW).
This achievement marked a 44 per cent year-on-year growth, with China leading the way by contributing more than half the new capacity. While this progress demonstrates the rapid expansion of solar energy worldwide, Africa's contribution remained modest, with the continent adding just 2.5 GW-peak in 2024 to reach a cumulative installed capacity of 19.2 GWp.
Although this represents a step forward, it underscores the widening gap between Africa and other regions in harnessing solar energy. Structural challenges such as limited financing, regulatory barriers and infrastructure constraints continue to impede the continent’s ability to fully unlock its solar potential. Nevertheless, Africa’s growing appetite for clean energy signals a promising future for solar power across the region.
The announcement of 40 GW worth of new solar projects during the year, representing a 21 per cent increase from 2023, highlighted a strong commitment from governments and private investors to accelerate solar deployment. This expanding project pipeline reflects a growing recognition of solar energy as a key driver for addressing energy poverty and catalysing economic development.
In addition to the increasing number of projects, solar installations have spread geographically. By the end of 2024, 29 African countries had installed over 1 MWp of solar capacity, signifying a broader reach for solar energy across the continent.
South Africa remained the leader, adding 1,235 MWp, followed by Egypt with 707 MWp. Meanwhile, countries such as Zambia (74.8 MWp), Nigeria (63.5 MWp) and Angola (53.8 MWp) also demonstrated noteworthy progress.
While the spread of solar energy across Africa is encouraging, a significant concentration of capacity persists. In 2024, 78 per cent of all new installations were concentrated in just two countries — South Africa and Egypt. This uneven growth highlighted the challenges many other African nations face in creating conducive environments for solar investment.
South Africa’s dominance in solar installations can be attributed to its relatively advanced regulatory frameworks and the maturity of its commercial and industrial (C&I) market.
Egypt, with its strong government support and established infrastructure, has also positioned itself as a leader. However, other countries with vast solar potential struggle to attract investment due to regulatory inefficiencies and financing barriers.
Addressing these issues is critical to ensuring that solar energy development is more evenly distributed across the continent.
After years of subdued activity, utility-scale solar projects experienced a strong resurgence in Africa in 2024, accounting for 72 per cent of all new installations. This shift was driven by declining solar technology costs, increasing investor confidence and supportive government policies.
South Africa, in particular, saw robust growth in embedded generation and large wheeling projects, which together accounted for 39 per cent of the country’s solar installations.
Nigeria climbed 12 spots in solar rankings, but constrained by weak grid infrastructure, focused heavily on decentralised solutions such as mini-grids and C&I solar. These alternative approaches underscore the adaptability of solar energy technologies in meeting diverse energy needs across Africa.
While metrics such as megawatts installed provide a high-level overview, a more nuanced assessment of solar progress in Africa requires alternative measures. Metrics like installed solar capacity per capita (Wp / capita) highlight the penetration of solar energy relative to population size.
Similarly, examining the share of solar energy in a country’s total electricity generation offers a clearer picture of its contribution to the energy mix.
In 2024, 21 African countries generated at least 5 per cent of their electricity from solar, with seven countries surpassing the 10 per cent mark. The Central African Republic (CAR) stood out with over 40 per cent of its electricity coming from solar, underscoring its transformative potential in regions with low electrification rates.
Other countries, such as Mauritania and Namibia, demonstrated the lasting impact of past solar investments, maintaining high solar penetration levels despite limited new installations in 2024.
The Gambia and Djibouti made the most significant leap, rising 30 positions as new solar projects came online, illustrating the rapid advancements achievable with focused efforts.
C&I solar projects continued to play a critical role in driving solar adoption across Africa. In 2024, the rolling pipeline for C&I projects grew by 15 per cent, reflecting sustained demand from businesses seeking cost-effective and reliable energy solutions.
At the same time, large-scale solar projects made a notable comeback, with an 81 GW pipeline under development across the continent. This resurgence is expected to attract substantial foreign investment and contribute significantly to meeting Africa’s growing energy demands.
Green hydrogen, once a major focal point of renewable energy discussions in Africa, saw a stabilisation in 2024. Only 1,180 MW of new projects were announced, a slowdown compared to previous years. However, this may indicate a strategic shift from announcements to implementation, as stakeholders begin to focus on delivering the ambitious projects launched in earlier years.
Energy storage is emerging as a game-changer for Africa’s solar sector, with installed capacity experiencing an exponential rise in 2024. From a threefold increase in 2023, storage capacity soared tenfold in 2024, reaching 1,641 MWh. The surge can be attributed to several factors, including declining costs, technological advancements and the growing recognition of storage as a critical component of grid stability.
South Africa led the adoption of storage solutions, driven by frequent power outages and the need for reliable electricity supply. Utility-scale projects across the continent also increasingly integrated storage, enhancing the reliability of solar energy systems.
Additionally, several countries initiated standalone large-scale storage projects to address grid management challenges and support renewable energy integration.
The Africa Solar Outlook 2025 report by the African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) presents much of this perspective.
As solar technology continues to evolve and costs decline, Africa’s journey toward a brighter, solar-powered future is poised to accelerate, illuminating millions of lives across the continent.