Africa is entering a new phase of clean energy adoption, with solar panel imports across the continent reaching record levels.
A new report shows that solar imports on the continent increased by 60% between July 2024 and June 2025.
According to the report, solar import now stand at 15032 megawatts (MW), up from 9379 MW the year before. This marks the first evidence of a take off in solar in Africa.
The rise is happening across the continent, not only in a few big countries.
Twenty countries set new records, and twenty five nations imported at least 100 MW compared to fifteen a year earlier.
Much of this growth comes from distributed solar on rooftops, schools and small enterprises rather than large solar farms.
This wave of affordable Chinese panels is reshaping Africa’s energy landscape.
China still provides over 80% of global solar supply.
Yet, as imports grow, a few countries are also investing in local production capacity like Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.
African nations are turning to solar to ease pressure on fragile grids, cut diesel costs, and expand access to electricity.
Imports of panels surged in 2025, showing how demand is rising even in smaller economies. Below is the list of the ten African nations that recorded the largest solar imports in 2025.
10. Benin
At the lower end of the ranking is Benin, which more than tripled solar imports in the 12 months to June 2025.
These panels, if installed, could generate about 10% of the electricity the country produced in 2023
In rural areas, this extra power could support schools, health centres, and street lighting.
The trend reflects a wider pattern in West Africa, where distributed solar is filling gaps in weak and overstretched grids.
9. Democratic Republic of Congo
Next is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which also more than tripled solar imports in the same period.
Because the country is so large and the grid does not reach many areas, most of the panels are likely used in off grid communities.
That shift is critical for remote regions with little or no power infrastructure.
Local entrepreneurs have already begun using solar kits to supply farms, village centres, and small businesses.
8. Liberia
According to the report, moving further up the list is Liberia, where solar imports more than tripled.
The panel import into the West African country is expected to add 25% to Liberia’s reported 2023 electricity generation.
Inside the country, powering towns and businesses with reliable solar has the potential to bring lasting benefits in education, health, and local commerce.
The expansion shows how small nations can make big gains with targeted imports.
7. Sudan
Sudan follows, with solar imports increasing six fold in the last year.
This growth is striking in a country facing political instability and strained public finances.
The demand for independent electricity has surged, and solar offers a vital lifeline to clinics, markets, and homes beyond the reach of unreliable grid systems.
In many areas, panels now provide the only steady source of power in the war-torn country.
6. Botswana
South African country Botswana is fast becoming another hub for renewable energy transition.
According to the report under review, the country ranked sixth when it comes to renewable energy adoption, recording a seven fold rise in solar imports.
The country has long depended on coal, but is now pushing to diversify its energy mix.
Solar systems are supporting mining zones and expanding towns, particularly in rural communities.
For instance, local distributors report strong demand from customers seeking panels to power workshops, streetlights, and cooling systems for food storage.
5. Zambia
The report notes that Zambia has seen an eightfold rise in power imports as it struggles to balance growing demand with limited supply.
Hydropower remains the backbone of the grid, but recurring droughts in recent years have severely weakened output.
To fill the gap, solar energy is playing a bigger role, helping to reduce the risk of outages and provide a measure of stability.
For instance, businesses and households are increasingly turning to solar solutions, while key sectors like agriculture and mining are adopting panels to sustain operations during grid disruptions.
Yet despite these efforts, electricity imports continue to climb, showing little sign of slowing as consumption rises across the country.
4. Egypt
The report shows that Egypt has now slipped to fourth place, falling behind Nigeria after several years of holding the lead in Africa’s solar market.
Even so, Egypt remains one of only two countries on the continent with gigawatt-scale solar infrastructure, underscoring its established position in the sector.
At the same time, new projects are beginning to take shape.
EliTe Solar is setting up a 3 GW facility expected to come online in 2025. Sunrev Solar is planning a 2 GW plant by 2026. Masdar is also preparing a larger 4 GW venture scheduled for later.
Together, these developments signal Egypt’s determination to combine imports with local manufacturing.
The goal is not only to expand domestic capacity but also to reduce the country’s reliance on external supply chains and strengthen its role as a regional hub for solar production.
3. Algeria
Climbing further, Algeria holds third place with imports of 1199 MW a 33-fold increase.
The government plans to source 27% of its electricity from renewables by 2035.
Fifteen solar plants totalling 2000 MW are scheduled to start construction, alongside research in solar silicon under the Sahara Solar Breeder Project.
Backed by Japan and local players, the project aims to produce material that could one day power half the world.
2. Nigeria
In second place is Nigeria, which imported 1,721 MW of solar panels in the period under review, moving ahead of Egypt.
The country’s reliance on an estimated 28 GW of diesel generator capacity has made solar a far more attractive option, with some systems paying back their costs in as little as six months.
Large-scale solar farms are still uncommon, held back by financing gaps and bureaucratic delays. Yet, adoption at the household level is growing quickly.
Many families are turning to flexible “buy now, pay later” schemes.
In addition, government programmes such as Solar Power Naija and initiatives led by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) are expanding access to clean energy in rural communities.
These trends show how Nigeria is gradually shifting from costly, polluting diesel dependence toward more sustainable power solutions.
1. South Africa
South Africa sits at the top of the ranking, holding its position as Africa’s largest solar importer. In the year to June 2025, imports reached 3,784 MW.
The country’s deepening power crisis has fueled this demand.
Companies like Herholdt’s Group have benefited, with revenues climbing from $34 million in 2018 to $461 million in 2023 as persistent blackouts pushed more customers toward solar.
Local generation is also beginning to scale, with the 75 MW Grootspruit Solar Farm under development to feed electricity into the national grid through Eskom.
The impact of the rise in solar import
But the surge in solar is more than just a story of rising import volumes.
It marks a turning point for Africa’s energy future.
Solar has become the continent’s most affordable power source, competing with diesel and winning on cost, while outperforming coal and gas in both price and sustainability.
In Nigeria, systems can recover their costs in as little as six months.
Solar imports are also helping countries spend less on fuel.
In nine of those ten nations, the money spent on oil is still far higher than what is spent on solar panels between 30 and 107 times more.
But the gap is closing quickly.
This change is giving countries more energy independence and leaving extra funds for things like schools, hospitals, and roads.
The data has limits, though. It tracks Chinese exports, not panels installed.
Some may be stored or re-exported.
Next steps for solar adoption in Africa
Africa still needs better tracking of solar installations, not only imports.
Stronger data will help governments plan more effectively and support clean, equitable solar growth.
Large-scale manufacturing is still limited across the continent, but momentum is building.
Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco are already developing capacity and could soon shift from being panel importers to becoming producers.
This marks the beginning of Africa’s solar takeoff.
For it to be steady, fair, and inclusive, governments, researchers, and communities must work together to shape the path forward and ensure the benefits of solar reach everyone.
