Africa is positioning solar energy at the center of its long-term economic and energy transformation, with a pipeline of projects that could deliver around 148 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity across the continent. Backed by vast solar resources and falling technology costs, solar power is increasingly viewed as the most viable solution to Africa’s chronic electricity shortages and rising energy demand.
Despite accounting for nearly 60% of the world’s solar potential, Africa remains one of the least electrified regions globally, with about 600 million people still without access to power. Governments and investors now see large-scale solar deployment as a way to bridge this gap while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and expensive diesel generation.
Major projects under development reflect the growing ambition. Libya is planning a massive solar program within a special economic zone that could reach 25 GW, while Mauritania is advancing some of the continent’s most ambitious initiatives, including the 30 GW Megaton Moon project and the 12 GW AMAN green hydrogen development, both anchored in solar generation. Morocco continues to consolidate its leadership in renewables, with projects such as the 7.5 GW AMUN solar complex and the Xlinks Morocco–UK interconnection, which aims to export clean electricity to Europe.
Beyond mega-projects, solar is expanding in diverse and innovative formats. Countries such as Chad are using solar plants like the Noor Chad facility to diversify energy systems traditionally reliant on hydrocarbons. Elsewhere, floating solar installations are being developed on reservoirs in countries including Ghana and Zimbabwe, while hybrid solar-plus-storage systems are gaining traction to ensure stable power supply after sunset.
Advances in battery energy storage systems (BESS) are strengthening Solar’s role as a dependable energy source. In some African markets, dispatchable solar power combining generation and storage is now competitive, with costs reported at around $76 per megawatt-hour, undercutting thermal and diesel alternatives.
However, scaling solar across Africa will require substantial financing. Estimates suggest the continent needs about $277 billion annually to meet its energy and climate goals, yet current climate finance flows cover only a fraction of that amount. While green bonds and sustainability-linked instruments are expanding, with issuances reaching roughly $13 billion in 2024, funding gaps remain a major constraint.
Efforts are also underway to build local value chains and strengthen regional integration. Nigeria, for example, is investing in domestic solar manufacturing capacity, including module production and assembly plants totaling more than 2 GW. At the same time, new cross-border power interconnections in Central and Southern Africa are designed to support electricity trade and improve grid resilience.
Although Africa currently has just over 20 GW of operational solar capacity, growth momentum is accelerating. Some projections suggest installed capacity could approach 300 GW by 2030 if regulatory reforms, grid investments, and financing mechanisms continue to improve.
As a result, solar power is no longer seen solely as a climate solution. It is increasingly framed as a strategic driver of economic growth, capable of expanding electricity access, lowering energy costs, supporting industrialization, and integrating African power markets, provided that ambitious plans translate into projects on the ground.
