By:Forbesafrica

In a continent where more than half the population—some 600 million people—live without electricity, it seems painfully ironic that Africa is also one of the sunniest places on Earth. The marriage of solar power and the continent feels not only inevitable but long overdue.

“Africa is the region with the most solar potential worldwide–and also the region with the most to gain from the solar revolution,” explains Global Solar Council strategy director, Alyssa Pek.

South Africa, home to 46% of the continent’s new solar installations in 2024, per the Global Solar Council, is a leader in Africa’s ascent towards the utilization of renewable energy resources, followed closely by Egypt at 29%. Both countries could hold the key to Africa’s most ambitious energy projects.

The former boasts KaXu Solar One, a $891-million solar plant covering an area of approximately three square kilometers. According to the Industrial Development Corporation, its output is exuberant, providing clean, sustainable electricity to over 400,000 South Africans while providing job opportunities throughout the construction phase and around 80 permanent jobs during operation.