What percentage of new solar capacity in Africa increased over 2024-25, marking the continent's fastest growth on record?

Africa experienced a remarkable surge in its solar power sector, with new capacity increasing by 54% in 2025 compared to the previous year. This significant jump marked the fastest annual growth on record for the continent, as approximately 4.5 gigawatts of new solar photovoltaic capacity were installed. This rapid expansion highlights Africa's accelerating energy transition and its growing commitment to renewable sources.

The impressive growth is largely attributed to two concurrent trends. On one hand, large-scale utility projects, often backed by public and development finance, continue to expand, feeding power into national grids. Simultaneously, there's a burgeoning movement of privately financed rooftop, commercial, and distributed solar systems, driven by households and businesses seeking more reliable and affordable energy solutions. This dual approach is helping to spread solar deployment across a wider range of African countries, moving beyond the traditional early adopters.

This expansion is being fueled by several factors, including the continually falling costs of solar technology, increased foreign investment, and a pressing demand for improved energy access and reliability. While established markets like South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria remain significant contributors, a growing number of mid-sized and emerging markets are also making substantial gains. The continent's vast solar resources position it to become a global leader in solar PV, though challenges such as financing gaps and the need for aligned policy and regulatory frameworks remain critical to unlocking its full potential.