Anticipated Surge in Solar Power Installations across Africa by 2025

African nations kept up a robust pace of solar power installations last year, and projections indicate the sector will continue to expand in 2025, as highlighted in a recent industry report.

The Global Solar Council estimated that the continent added 2,400 megawatts of solar generation capacity in 2024, which is slightly lower than the previous year, attributing this to a decline in installations in South Africa following a strong performance in 2023.

The industry advocacy group, in a report released on Wednesday, forecasted a 42% increase in new installations for 2025, partly due to the anticipated online launch of several key projects that were postponed in 2024.

“Africa is expected to cumulatively install 23 gigawatts of new solar capacity from 2025 to 2028, more than doubling its cumulative installed capacity from 2024 in just four years,” the report stated, noting that fluctuations in fuel prices and high electricity costs render solar a viable option for the region.

While South Africa and Egypt represent the largest markets, West Africa has also experienced significant growth, with Ghana nearly quadrupling its installations to 94 megawatts of solar energy. Burkina Faso saw its solar capacity surge by over 120% last year, reaching 87 megawatts, while Nigeria installed about 73 megawatts, according to the council.

“Many African nations are still battling electricity shortages and frequent power outages which are driving businesses and households towards solar as a dependable alternative,” it remarked.

Analysts additionally indicated that former US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from climate initiatives, which included stepping back from a key program aimed at promoting the transition to green energy in countries like South Africa, will not impede billions of dollars of ongoing climate projects.

Nonetheless, the growth of solar energy in Africa is being hindered by capital costs that are approximately seven times greater than those in developed nations. The GSC report revealed that Africa still captures just 3% of global energy investment.

“Numerous projects are facing challenges in securing funding due to high interest rates, currency volatility, and a lack of guarantees,” stated Léo Echard, policy officer at GSC and principal author of the report. “If we can lower capital costs, Africa could transform into one of the fastest-growing solar markets worldwide.”

© 2025 Bloomberg

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