Nigeria has surged past Egypt to claim the position as Africa’s second-largest solar energy importer, driven by the widespread adoption of solar panels and battery storage systems that provide practical and affordable alternatives to diesel generators and unreliable grid power. The gradual removal of diesel subsidies over the past two years has significantly accelerated solar energy adoption across Nigeria, with the policy implemented sector by sector to cushion economic impact while making diesel increasingly expensive and nudging businesses and households toward renewable alternatives.
Last September, Nigeria announced ambitious plans for a 1-gigawatt solar panel factory, which will become the largest manufacturing facility of its kind in West Africa. Similar production facilities are currently under construction in Egypt, South Africa, and Ethiopia as the continent moves toward greater energy independence. Historically, South Africa dominated solar imports in Africa, at one point accounting for roughly half of all panels shipped to the continent, but the latest data reveals its market share has slipped below one-third as demand surged elsewhere across the continent.
Last year alone, 20 African nations set new annual records for solar imports, with 25 countries importing a total of at least 100 megawatts of capacity, according to a comprehensive report by the Africa Solar Industry Association. Dramatic growth occurred in Algeria, where solar imports soared more than 30-fold year-on-year, while imports also surged in Zambia and Botswana.
At least 23 African countries, including South Africa, Tunisia, Kenya, Chad, and the Central African Republic, are now generating over 5% of their electricity from solar energy. Falling prices for both solar panels and batteries, mostly sourced from China, have enabled households and businesses to rely on solar-plus-battery systems for round-the-clock electricity supply.
Battery storage costs in Africa fell to $112 per kilowatt-hour in 2025 from an average of $144 per kilowatt-hour in 2023 as improved technology made storage systems more flexible and longer-lasting. Africa was the world’s fastest-growing solar market in 2025, defying a global slowdown and reshaping where momentum in renewable energy is concentrated, with the continent’s solar installed capacity expanding 17% in 2025 boosted by imports of Chinese-made solar panels.
Source: orientalnewsng.com