Africa's Surge in Purchasing Chinese Solar Panels

Across the African continent, from the Mediterranean shoreline to the depths of Zambia, there is a notable increase in the importation of solar panels this year compared to previous years. Analysts suggest this upsurge could mark the beginning of a significant transition towards renewable sources for Africa's energy needs, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

In May 2025, African nations collectively imported 1.57 gigawatts of solar panels from China, reaching a historic peak. To illustrate, this is comparable to acquiring three-fourths of the Hoover Dam's capacity in just one month. Dave Jones, a leading analyst at the global energy research group Ember, highlights that this boom isn't driven by wealthier nations like South Africa. Instead, it stems from about twenty smaller nations across the continent.

Jones utilizes Chinese customs records to track the value of solar panel exports to various countries. During the initial five months of 2025, data indicates that no fewer than 22 African countries have imported greater quantities of these panels than in the same period the previous year, with most countries seeing imports double. Algeria provides a striking example, importing 0.76 gigawatts of panels in the first half of 2025, a staggering increase of 6,300% over the prior year.

Even less economically developed nations like Chad have brought in enough panels to potentially overhaul their entire current power infrastructure. 'The scale of these imports is remarkable when you compare it to the existing demand on the electric grid,' Jones explained to WIRED.

Shift in Energy Paradigms

China has maintained a stronghold on global solar panel production for over ten years. Thanks to governmental support, large-scale production strategies, and technological enhancements by local firms, more than 80% of the world's panels originate from China. Historically, most of these exports have been destined for Europe, North America, and other parts of Asia.

While the volume of solar panel exports to Africa remains modest in contrast to these traditional markets, there's an observable shift in the Global South's approach to energy solutions. For decades, energy-scarce nations in Africa had few choices but to import coal and natural gas for energy. Now, for the first time, solar power is emerging as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative, rendering ecological sacrifice unnecessary for progress.

Rising Trends and Economic Implications

The African scenario is reminiscent of previous global green energy transformations, akin to the substantial changes seen in Pakistan last year. In 2024, Pakistan installed vast quantities of solar panels, notably altering the country's energy dynamic as residential rooftops became focal points for solar installations. This trend began to endanger the national grid's relevance as more individuals opted for self-sustained energy generation through personal panels.

South Africa witnessed similar shifts back in 2023, where insufficient utility frameworks pushed both nations to explore alternative energy. Governments responded with incentives such as tax reductions for solar panel purchases or compensations for excess energy supplied to the grid.

What fundamentally drives solar's appeal worldwide is the substantial decrease in purchasing and installation costs for Chinese panels. Even countries less concerned about climate change are finding it economically prudent to choose solar energy, says Anika Patel, a Chinese energy policies analyst at Carbon Brief.

The affordability of solar technology is particularly crucial in Africa, where financing challenges make it difficult to secure funding for solar initiatives compared to more developed regions, as noted by Léo Echard from the Global Solar Council. China's competitive pricing in solar products positions it as the preferred supplier for Africa's burgeoning solar energy needs.

Solar Power Expands from Grids to Rooftops

According to Echard, two primary types of demand are fueling the solar boom across Africa. In North Africa, nations like Algeria and Egypt are constructing vast solar plants which require extensive quantities of panels. Conversely, in sub-Saharan Africa, these panels are predominantly being imported to less centralized areas traditionally disconnected from the national grid.

Mirroring trends in Pakistan, dispersed networks of rooftop solar technology are revolutionizing the energy outlook by providing individuals with access to electricity without reliance on state infrastructure or international loans. This change fosters organic growth, dependent mainly on the affordability of solar panels.

Yike Fu, climate program manager at Development Reimagined, witnessed the off-grid adoption of solar energy while visiting Kenya's Maasai Mara in 2023. In one village, the primary interaction with electricity was made possible through a singular Chinese-provided panel amid a backdrop of solar inaccessibility.

Community Impact and Industry Risks

Globally, reactions to China's economically advantageous solar products differ. Whereas the United States limits imports through tariffs, countries like Pakistan fully embrace them as vital energy solutions.

African countries currently welcome these imports due to their significant energy deficits. However, some nations are exploring policies to cultivate local solar manufacturing industries, hoping to benefit from the renewable energy shift domestically.

Yet, as Elena Kiryakova from ODI Global highlights, there remains minimal solar production infrastructure in Africa, focusing primarily on assembly processes, which add little value to the industry.

Amongst discussions in places like Kenya, consensus leans towards relying on cost-effective imports rather than hampering energy initiatives by nurturing local industry. As it stands, importing Chinese-made solar panels seems to be Africa's most preferred course of action for the foreseeable future.