Ember: The first evidence of a take-off in solar in Africa

This report presents Ember’s analysis of Africa’s imports of solar panels from China.

Drawing on Chinese customs data the report tracks a sharp increase in shipments of photovoltaic modules to African countries over the last year, suggesting a continent-wide shift is underway.

The data shows that solar panel imports to Africa rose 60% in the 12 months to June 2025, reaching more than 15 gigawatts. Crucially, this surge extends beyond South Africa, which has historically dominated solar uptake on the continent. Twenty countries set new import records, and 25 imported at least 100 megawatts of capacity. Nigeria emerged as the second-largest importer after South Africa, overtaking Egypt, while countries like Algeria, Zambia, and Liberia posted some of the fastest growth rates

If installed, these imports could dramatically reshape national energy systems. Across 16 countries, solar imports alone could add more than 5% to reported generation. The economics are equally compelling: in Nigeria, a typical solar panel can offset its cost in diesel savings within six months.

This report is a call to action: Africa’s solar take-off is real. With better data, smarter investment, and supportive regulation, the world’s cheapest source of electricity could transform African economies making reliable, clean power accessible to millions.