Ember reports record solar panel imports across Africa

• 8 days ago (2025-09-02)
• David Flin

Africa 342 Solar 307

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The energy think tank Ember reports that Africa is beginning to show the first clear signs of a boom in solar power, with imports of solar panels from China having surged dramatically over the past year.

Ember calculates from shipment values that in the 12 months to June 2025, Africa imported over 15 GW of solar panels from China, a 60 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

According to the report, imports outside South Africa nearly tripled over two years, from 3 734 MW to 11 248 MW. This shift has occurred across the continent. A total of 20 African countries set new records for solar power imports for the year to June 2025, and 25 countries imported at least 100 MW, up from 15 countries the previous year.

Growth has been particularly sharp in Algeria and Zambia, as well as Botswana, Sudan, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Angola, and Ethiopia, all of which saw their imports multiply several times over.