By: News Ghana

This figure will soon look modest, with more than 10 GWp currently under construction across utility-scale, commercial, industrial, and off-grid projects. While regions like Europe and the US report slowing solar installations, Africa is breaking its own records year after year.

South Africa remains the dominant force, accounting for roughly half of the continent’s installed capacity. North African nations, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia round out the top four. Southern Africa saw the most new operational capacity in 2025, with Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia making significant strides alongside South Africa. Algeria is poised for a major comeback, launching a 3 GW initiative across 20 projects after years of limited activity.

The contrast with global trends is stark. SolarPower Europe predicts a 1.4% decline in solar installations worldwide this year, the first drop since 2015. US installations fell 7% year-on-year and plummeted 43% between late 2024 and early 2025. Africa, however, grew by 44% in 2024, building on 2023’s 22% surge.

Utility-scale projects now dominate the pipeline, making up 70% of the 10+ GWp under construction. While South Africa leads current construction activity (28%), Algeria, Egypt, Angola, Tunisia, and Zambia collectively account for 75% of all new building efforts.

This momentum sets the stage for December’s Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) in Accra. Organized by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) and SolarPower Europe, the forum will convene industry leaders to discuss solar’s role alongside storage, electric mobility, and green hydrogen.

AFSIA’s comprehensive database, tracking over 38,000 African solar projects daily, underpins the continent’s increasingly detailed market intelligence.

You can feel the shift happening. Solar isn’t just expanding here; it’s becoming foundational.