Africa has abundant solar energy resources, and the development potential of photovoltaic industry is huge. In recent years, African countries have continuously introduced policies and measures to accelerate the construction of photovoltaic projects, which has become a major highlight in the development of renewable energy in Africa. Chinese enterprises are actively helping African countries to develop PV industry, and China-Africa cooperation in PV industry has shown broad prospects.
New Installed Capacity Breaks Record
African Solar Energy Industry Association recently released the “2024 Solar Energy Annual Outlook: Review of Solar Energy Status in African Countries” report shows that in 2023, the new installed capacity of PV in Africa was 3.74 gigawatts (GW), an increase of 19% year-on-year, a record, with a total installed capacity of 16.3 GW. Among them, South Africa ranked first, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Kenya, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and Egypt and other countries new installed PV capacity in African countries also ranked first.
South Africa is the largest installed PV capacity in Africa. According to the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association, as of the end of 2024, South Africa’s cumulative installed PV capacity is about 8.97 GW. Currently, South Africa has 40 PV project tenders with a total installed capacity of 8.526 GW, distributed in the Free State Province, Limpopo Province, North West Province, Mpumalanga Province, Northern Cape Province and other places. In addition, the South African government 2024 also introduced a series of policies to encourage the development of the photovoltaic industry, including the simplification of the photovoltaic project approval process, in order to attract more investors to participate in the construction of photovoltaic projects in South Africa.
According to the latest data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), as of 2024, Egypt’s installed photovoltaic capacity is about 1.9 gigawatts (GW), ranking second among African countries. In December last year, a photovoltaic power plant with an installed capacity of 500 megawatts was inaugurated in Egypt’s Aswan governorate, with an estimated annual generation capacity of 1,500 gigawatt hours, enough to supply power to about 300,000 Egyptian households. Egyptian Prime Minister Madbouli said the project is of great significance to Egypt’s economic development and energy stability. According to the relevant plan of the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the target of 42% of national electricity generation from renewable energy sources will be realized by 2030, with photovoltaic power generation accounting for about 22%. It is estimated that this requires an additional 31 GW of installed PV capacity. Last year, the Egyptian government also reached a financing plan with the World Bank of 700 million U.S. dollars for the development of renewable energy projects, including the photovoltaic industry.
The Moroccan government is also actively promoting the development of photovoltaic industry. Not long ago released “World Energy Statistics Yearbook 2024” shows that Morocco’s total installed capacity of photovoltaic 0.394 GW. The Moroccan government has developed to 2030 renewable energy power generation accounted for 52% of the total power generation targets, through the provision of land concessions, tax breaks and other measures to encourage enterprises to build large-scale photovoltaic projects. As one of the largest renewable energy projects in Morocco, the Nouaux Solar Power Park Phase III project has an installed capacity of 400 MW, and the project is currently in the licensing phase and is expected to be put into commercial operation in 2026.
ClimateWorks Foundation Global Energy Transition Africa Director Gide Iguijado believes that African countries actively promote the development of photovoltaic industry, which not only helps to solve the problem of energy shortage, but also helps to promote economic development, create employment opportunities and reduce environmental pollution.
Many countries have introduced industrial support initiatives
Energy shortage is a common problem faced by African countries. International Renewable Energy Agency statistics released not long ago show that the current powerless population in sub-Saharan Africa amounted to 570 million, accounting for more than 80% of the global powerless population. By 2030, hundreds of millions of people in Africa will still have no access to electricity. At the same time, Africa has abundant solar energy resources. The report of the International Energy Agency shows that Africa’s solar energy reserves account for 40% of the world’s solar energy, providing unique natural conditions for the development of photovoltaic industry.
Many countries in Africa take the development of photovoltaic industry as an important means to alleviate their power shortage and realize sustainable development. In March last year, Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Mr. Biteyko, attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the 50 MW PV power plant project in Shinyanga. The Shinyanga photovoltaic power plant constructed by CEC is the first photovoltaic project in the country, which is of great significance to Tanzania’s new energy development. Biteyko expressed the hope that the project will be completed on schedule and with high quality, which will provide important support for alleviating Tanzania’s power tension and promoting local economic and social development.
The Kenyan government in March last year, according to the national renewable energy development strategy, launched the expansion of renewable energy investment program, the photovoltaic industry as one of the key development areas. The Kenyan government plans to build a number of large-scale photovoltaic power stations in the next few years, and encourage the installation of distributed photovoltaic power generation systems in rural and remote areas. In order to achieve this goal, the Kenyan government has provided financial subsidies, loan preferences and other policy support, while strengthening cooperation with international organizations and enterprises to introduce advanced PV technology and management experience.
The Cameroonian government announced that it would exempt import tariffs and other taxes on photovoltaic equipment components from January last year to support the development of the renewable energy industry. In late March last year, Algeria’s national utility company signed contracts with a number of local and international companies to build 20 photovoltaic projects with a combined installed capacity of 3 GW. In August last year, the Cabinet of South Sudan approved a $150 million solar energy project to build a 5 MW photovoltaic power plant in the capital, Juba.
The African Development Bank said in its report that the development of photovoltaic industry will create new jobs for African countries, while helping to promote the emergence of local manufacturing industry, promote technology transfer and innovation, and improve Africa’s position in the global industrial chain. Algeria’s Orient newspaper said Africa’s power infrastructure is scarce, and photovoltaic power generation can provide clean energy for more remote areas. The development of PV industry can also reduce dependence on fossil energy and promote environmental protection and sustainable development.
China-Africa PV cooperation is deepening
In recent years, China and African countries have been deepening cooperation in the PV industry. According to the latest data, the installed capacity of PV power stations built by China and Africa has exceeded 1.5 GW, providing support for Africa to alleviate energy shortages and cope with climate change.
In Egypt, China Electricity Complete Equipment Co., Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding with the Egyptian New and Renewable Energy Authority and the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company in January last year on the joint development of a large-scale photovoltaic project of 10 gigawatts. The Egyptian newspaper Kommersant said that the project can provide a large amount of clean energy every year after its completion, which will help reduce carbon emissions by about 14 million tons.
In Eritrea, a signing ceremony was held in February last year for China Energy Construction’s first photovoltaic energy storage project in the country – a 30 MW photovoltaic energy storage turnkey project in Eritrea’s Dekemhare region. Local media reported that the construction capacity of the project is 30 MW photovoltaic power station + 15 MW / 30 MWh energy storage system, the completion of the project will effectively improve the local power supply, reduce power costs, and promote the diversification of energy sources.
In Garissa County in northeastern Kenya, the Garissa 50 MW photovoltaic power plant constructed by Chinese enterprises is the largest photovoltaic power generation project in East Africa to date. Since its official commissioning in 2019, the Garissa PV power station will generate more than 76 million kilowatt-hours of electricity on average per year, which can meet the electricity demand of 70,000 households totaling more than 380,000 people, and at the same time, it can help Kenya save about 24,470,000 tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 64,000 tons per year ……
Demisi, a researcher at the Ethiopian Policy Research Institute and a professor at Addis Ababa University, said in an interview with this reporter that China has advantages in the field of photovoltaics such as mature technology and large-scale production capacity. China is open to cooperate with African countries in the photovoltaic industry, helping the cause of green development in Africa and contributing to the global response to climate change.
