• Nigeria becomes Africa’s second-largest solar market in 2025

• Solar capacity jumps 141%, driven mainly by off-grid systems

• Battery storage surges as policies support decentralized power growth

Nigeria emerged in 2025 as Africa’s second-largest solar market, installing 803 MW of new capacity during the year. According to the Africa Market Outlook 2026-2029 report published on Feb. 3 by the Global Solar Council, this amounted to year-on-year growth of 141%.

Growth was driven mainly by decentralized solar systems. Nigeria’s cumulative solar capacity rose from about 385 MW in 2024 to nearly 1.19 GW in 2025, with off-grid installations, private mini-grids, solar home systems and commercial rooftop systems accounting for roughly 1.15 GW, around 96% of total installed capacity. This reflects chronic weaknesses in the national grid and the high cost of diesel generation.

The report also notes that battery storage expanded even faster. Installed capacity increased from around 10 MWh to 40.6 MWh in a year, a rise of about 305%. The council said figures are likely understated because most projects are behind the meter, but the trend highlights growing battery integration in mini-grids and commercial installations.

On the regulatory front, Nigeria’s policy framework has supported this expansion. The Electricity Act 2023 strengthens sector decentralization and widens opportunities for private investment, while the Mini-Grid Regulations 2023 clarify authorization and tariff-setting procedures. However, dedicated rules for storage remain incomplete.

Regionally, Nigeria, which accounted for nearly 80% of West Africa’s solar additions in 2025, has been the main driver of growth. Under the report’s base-case scenario, the region could add a cumulative 4.9 GW between 2026 and 2029, with contributions from Nigeria and utility-scale projects in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Ghana.

Abdoullah Diop