Home / Business and Economy / Africa's Solar Surge: Record Growth in 2025
Africa's Solar Surge: Record Growth in 2025
3 Feb
Summary
- Africa installed 4.5 GW of solar in 2025, a 54% increase from the prior year.
- South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt led solar installations on the continent.
- Over $46 billion investment is needed by 2030 for African electrification targets.
In 2025, Africa achieved unprecedented solar energy expansion, installing roughly 4.5 gigawatts. This represents a substantial 54% year-over-year increase, exceeding previous records and forecasts.
South Africa led the continent's installations with 1.6 gigawatts, followed by Nigeria at 803 megawatts and Egypt with 500 megawatts. The Global Solar Council's report highlights this significant growth.
Looking ahead, Africa is projected to install over 33 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2029. This expansion is fueled by both utility-scale projects and distributed systems.
Achieving this potential requires aligning financial, regulatory, and planning frameworks with market dynamics. Mini-grid companies estimate needing up to $46 billion by 2030 to meet electrification targets across 29 African nations.
Africa is navigating two energy transitions simultaneously. One is a government-led push for grid-connected, utility-scale solar, largely supported by public funds. The other is a privately funded transition focused on rooftop and distributed solar solutions for homes and businesses.
Currently, approximately 82% of clean energy funding in Africa originates from public and development sources, with financing structures primarily favoring large-scale projects, despite the rapid growth of smaller, distributed solar systems.
Despite financial hurdles, solar and storage technologies are viewed as crucial for Africa's energy access, sustainable development, and resilience against climate change impacts.
