• Africa accounts for approximately 60% of global solar potential, while announced solar projects across the continent total about 148 GW of planned capacity.
• Around 600 million people in Africa remain without access to electricity, while the cost of solar-plus-storage has declined to approximately USD 76/MWh.
• Achieving continental energy and climate targets requires an estimated USD 277 billion in annual financing.

Announced solar projects across Africa represent approximately 148 GW of capacity at various stages of development. These projects are primarily aimed at expanding electricity access for the estimated 600 million people currently without power and reducing dependence on fossil-fuel-based generation. Despite the scale of solar resources available, Africa has historically received less than 3% of global clean energy investment. Limited electricity access continues to affect service delivery in sectors such as education, healthcare, and agriculture.

The announced project pipeline is concentrated in large-scale developments in Northern Africa. Libya has announced a Special Economic Zone solar project with a capacity of 25,000 MW, in addition to photovoltaic projects totalling 3,300 MW. Mauritania has announced the Megaton Moon project, with a planned capacity of 30,000 MW, and the AMAN Green Hydrogen project, with a planned capacity of 12,000 MW. Morocco has announced several large projects, including the AMUN solar farm (7,500 MW) and the Xlinks Morocco–United Kingdom interconnection project (7,000 MW).

In Chad, solar development is linked to energy diversification efforts in an economy where hydrocarbons account for approximately 70.9% of export revenues. Under the “Tchad Connexion 2030” framework and the National Energy Compact, the government has set a target of 30% renewables in the national energy mix. Ongoing and planned projects include the Noor Chad solar plant (50 MWp) and African Development Bank-supported solar facilities at Gassi and Lamadji. These projects are intended to supply electricity to digital infrastructure, cold storage systems, and agricultural value chains, where approximately 80% of the population is engaged in farming.

Battery Energy Storage Systems have expanded the ability to integrate solar power into electricity grids by providing a dispatchable supply. Estimates indicate that converting daytime solar generation into fully dispatchable electricity costs approximately USD 33/MWh, bringing the total cost of continuous solar power to about USD 76/MWh. Mauritius has implemented a 100 MWp solar project with 290 MWh of battery storage, delivering electricity at approximately USD 0.07/kWh.

Floating solar installations are being developed to utilise reservoirs and inland water bodies. Ghana has commissioned multiple phases of floating solar at the Bui Reservoir, totalling 250 MW. Zimbabwe has announced a floating solar project with a planned capacity of 1,000 MW on Lake Kariba. Some installations are linked to industrial operations, including a 300 MW solar facility supplying power to the Karo Platinum Mine.

Financing remains a key requirement for project implementation. Africa’s energy and climate objectives require approximately USD 277 billion in investment annually, while current climate finance flows account for about 11% of this amount. In 2024, labelled debt instruments, including green, social, and sustainability bonds, reached USD 13 billion, supporting renewable energy and sustainability-linked projects in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire.

Local manufacturing initiatives also accompany solar deployment. Nigeria has established a public–private partnership for a 1 GW solar panel manufacturing facility and has announced plans for an additional 1.2 GW module assembly plant.

Regional power integration initiatives support higher renewable penetration. The Cameroon–Chad Interconnection (PIRECT) is designed to facilitate electricity trade between the two countries, including hydropower imports. In Southern Africa, the Mega Solar Initiative in Botswana and Namibia includes plans for 2,250 MW of solar capacity to serve regional power markets.

Solar energy deployment in Africa is associated with changes in electricity generation costs and in the composition of energy systems. In some markets, thermal generation costs reach up to USD 0.22/kWh, while solar-based generation offers lower-cost alternatives. Meeting longer-term capacity targets of up to 300 GW by 2030 is linked to regulatory frameworks, financing mechanisms, and grid infrastructure development.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang