With a number of notable (and sizeable) solar projects on the continent, could this renewable power source be the solution to economic development, job creation and more?



In a continent where more than half the population—some 600 million people—live without electricity, it seems painfully ironic that Africa is also one of the sunniest places on Earth. The marriage of solar power and the continent feels not only inevitable but long overdue.



“Africa is the region with the most solar potential worldwide–and also the region with the most to gain from the solar revolution,” explains Global Solar Council strategy director, Alyssa Pek.



South Africa, home to 46% of the continent’s new solar installations in 2024, per the Global Solar Council, is a leader in Africa’s ascent towards the utilization of renewable energy resources, followed closely by Egypt at 29%. Both countries could hold the key to Africa’s most ambitious energy projects.



The former boasts KaXu Solar One, a $891-million solar plant covering an area of approximately three square kilometers. According to the Industrial Development Corporation, its output is exuberant, providing clean, sustainable electricity to over 400,000 South Africans while providing job opportunities throughout the construction phase and around 80 permanent jobs during operation.



In Egypt, near the Nile River is where you&#8217;ll find a solar juggernaut: the Benban Solar Park. Stretching across 37 square kilometers, it incorporates 34 solar plants, a testament to the continent’s shift toward large-scale clean energy.



And here lies the smoking gun—a shift away from coal and gas, and towards more accessible solutions.



“When it comes down to financials and economics, what we’re seeing now is that solar is the cheapest form of electricity in the world,” notes Jonathan Hall, Chief Commercial Officer at SOLINK, a technical advisor and project facilitator in renewable energy and battery energy storage.



“How quickly the infrastructure can be built is another plus; when you compare it to a coal power station or nuclear, which can take fifteen to twenty years to build, a large-scale utility solar project can go up in under two years.”



The Global Solar Council forecasts a 42% increase in African solar infrastructure for 2025, illustrating optimism in the continent’s green revolution. Its ability to connect rural areas in Africa, via modular devices, can empower local economies and expand markets.



“More and more, governments across Africa are realizing that solar can be the backbone for realizing a country’s sustainable development goals,” Pek tells FORBES AFRICA, adding that, “solar brings in investment, creates jobs and powers businesses, gives people and communities energy access from urban centers to rural areas [and] can power schools, hospitals and other essential services–and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for what solar can deliver for African countries”.



In collaboration with Investec and Rand Merchant Bank, SolarAfrica, an integrated solutions provider in sub-Saharan Africa’s renewable energy sector, secured around ZAR1.8 billion ($96.7 million) in funding earlier this year, giving the go-ahead for SunCentral solar farm in South Africa.



Meanwhile, Egypt&#8217;s Benban Solar Park attracted $4 billion in investments before breaking ground, with major backers reportedly including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Green Climate Fund, and the Dutch Development Bank.



World banks and multinational corporations have leapt onto the African solar sector bandwagon. Not only does this show confidence in renewable energy, but the uptick in investment resembles a shifting global trend in energy demand.



According to the International Energy Agency, global renewable energy demand rose by 38% in 2024, compared to 15% for coal and 11% for oil.



“It’s clear that the socioeconomic benefits of solar make it a no-brainer for policymakers, especially as costs for solar and storage are plummeting rapidly making it one of the cheapest and fastest energy sources to deploy to meet the continent’s surging energy demand,” Pek adds.



From powering local communities to creating jobs, cutting energy costs, and reducing carbon emissions, Africa’s solar revolution isn’t just smart—it’s the future.

Aerial view of solar powered house.

A Green Energy Revolution: The Sun Is Shining On Africa’s Solar Sector

A recent report also notes that the African continent makes up less than 4% of global power sector emissions despite representing 19% of the global population.



The growth rate of solar generation reached a six-year high in 2024, up by 29%, with the share of global electricity generation from low-carbon sources being 40.9%. As reported by energy thinktank, Ember, in the Global Electricity Review 2025,global electricity demand grew by 4% last year, which was amplified by heatwaves.



Africa, however, only accounted for 3.1% of this demand. The continent also still only makes up 3.6% of global power sector emissions.



The report adds that “data for 2024 reveals a considerable rise in solar exports to the Middle East and Africa–two of the world’s sunniest regions that have historically had very low levels of installed capacity. In both regions, imports of solar panels have tripled in the last two years”.



South Africa imported 3.8 GW of solar panels in 2024; this is following “a record-breaking 2023 when 4.3 GW were imported as consumers turned to the technology amid rising blackouts”. Nigeria and Morocco imported 1.3 GW and 1.1 GW respectively, which reportedly marks the first time that either country has imported more than 1 GW in a single year.



“Over the last five years, 99 countries have doubled the amount of electricity they produce from solar power. This includes emerging economies such as South Africa, countries with the largest power systems in the world such as China and the United States and countries with the highest shares of solar power in their electricity mix such as Hungary and Spain.”



According to the Africa Market Outlook for Solar PV 2025–2028, published in March, in partnership with RMI and supported by GET.invest, 2.4 GW of new solar capacity was installed on the continent last year.



“By 2028, the continent is expected to install an additional 23 GW of solar–more than doubling its current capacity,” the outlook states.



“This growth is still a fraction of the immense solar potential in Africa, and it is essential to tap into this resource to meet global climate goals and the tripling of renewables target.”



The Ember report, which analyzes electricity data from 215 countries, including the latest 2024 data for 88 countries representing 93% of global electricity demand, as well as estimates for 2024 for all other countries, further indicates that South Africa forms part of the top three countries in the world with the highest share of coal power in 2024 at 82%, behind only Kosovo at 92% and Mongolia at 86%.



However, the country’s cabinet has approved the South African Renewable Energy Master (SAREM) Plan in March, which aims to increase the pace of the rolling out of renewable energy projects, create jobs and expand local manufacturing, foster industrial development through localization and support a just energy transition, amongst others.



Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa welcomed the approval, stating: “The South African Renewable Energy Master Plan is not just a blueprint for green industrialization; it is a pathway to a more sustainable and equitable future for all South Africans.



“We have a unique opportunity to lead in the global renewable energy and battery storage landscape, creating jobs and fostering economic growth while protecting our environment.”

Solar Power as South Africa Eyes Supply Deal With China

Global Solar Generation Growth Rate Up 29% In 2024; South Africa Sees Imports Of 3.8 GW Of Solar Panels

From fintech to foodtech solutions; from beauty brands to biotech infusions, FORBES AFRICA’s inaugural list of Small Giants across Africa showcases the tenacity of homegrown businesses and their impact on the communities they serve. Their pan-African CEO-founders and leaders are making giant strides in progressing Africa’s growth narrative, prioritizing ideas and innovation.



By&nbsp;Chanel Retief, Nicole Pillay and Oluwatomisin Amokeoja Art Direction:&nbsp;Manelisi Dabata Videography: Thabo Mathebula Photography: Katlego Mokubyane ;&nbsp;Assistant: Sbusiso Sigidi |&nbsp;Studio: NewKatz Studio, Johannesburg&nbsp; Styling: Deneal Van Wyk Hair &amp; Makeup:&nbsp;SnehhOnline Beauty



Tonye Irims founded WiSolar, an on-demand prepaid solar utility, in 2016. It focuses primarily on a power purchase agreement (PPA) business model. WiSolar installs and maintains the solar infrastructure in customer homes, and then sells that power to the customer via the app as re-quired per kWh – this could be for a 10- or 15-year term. According to the company, this business model allows property own-ers to install solar at no upfront cost.



When he first came upon the idea, Ir-ims set out to understand and learn more about solar technology. He also took a few trips overseas to find suppliers and de-termine how the company could connect mobile payments to solar electricity.



“When we started, it was kind of a dif-ficult time to sell solar to people because, first of all, people didn’t believe that solar electricity was the same as grid electric-ity – they felt that there was a difference in the electricity, so we had to explain to them [that] it’s the same thing, it’s just a different source,” he says.



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Irims created packages to make it easier for the customers to understand. The on-demand solar electricity platform is currently available in South Africa and Nigeria, however, the com-pany has plans to enter Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Tanzania, and the DRC in the future.



Irims advises future entrepreneurs: “It’s really a very difficult path. It’s not a sprint, it’s a long run. If you want quick wins, I don’t think entrepreneurship is for you… unless you’re ready to make a sacrifice, you’re ready to put in the discipline, and the consistency. And you also need to stay innova-tive as an entrepreneur – you need to actually look ahead. So, if you’re ready to sacrifice, ready to play the long game, it’s for you.”



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Small Giants: Nigerian Entrepreneur On The Power Of Solar And Staying Innovative

Seven years ago, 22-year-old Patrick Ngowi sat in a small office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He held several positions in his newly-formed renewable energy company, Helvetic Solar. He was the founder, CEO, assistant, cleaner and had one investor, his mother.
He was young, energetic and ready to change the way his country creates energy. But it was tough to convince the rest of Tanzania.
“I had cases where you extend a hand to someone and they don’t want to shake your hand. Some people were rude unnecessarily,” he says.
Many companies saw the potential of solar energy, but questioned the capabilities of the young man. Ngowi had come a long way as an entrepreneur and wasn’t going to give up that easily.
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His first business venture was selling scratch cards at the age of 15 where he would make at least $5 a day. After high school, his parents could not afford to send both him and his sister to university so his mother gave him $1,800 and a plane ticket and he flew to China and set up his own business in the cellular phone industry.
“It was an industry that yielded high profit margins but because capital was low, many people started coming up with similar business models.”
Ngowi adjusted his sights and focused on selling mobile phones to the rural communities. He thought that the market had been neglected and it brought him greater profits.
While working in China he learned that discipline and hard work were essential for success. One thing that made him sit up was seeing the respect people had for one another.
“From the common man on the street to the boss at the top, first and foremost people are very down to earth. They are not egotistic so you don’t get people over the top and for me that was important. As a young man, I saw men who were multi-millionaires who were literally loading the consignment onto the containers. For me it’s one of those things that wakes you up.”
With the money Ngowi made from his cellular business he was able to study renewable energy at Dezhou University, in Dezhou which is close to Beijing. Every day, he was troubled by the way the thick smog would blot out the sun. He decided that he didn’t want to see the same thing happen to the African sun in Tanzania.
“If you can lower your carbon footprint, it’s life changing. The idea is to preserve the world and make it a better place and to leave it better than the way you found it… I am so happy because right now, with the prices of solar panels going down, you’re seeing more and more people are able to afford it.”
While sitting near the beach, Ngowi slouched back in his chair and spoke of the positive impact China has had on the continent. In the last few years, China has made massive investments in several African countries. And while some question their motives, others, like Ngowi, see the benefits in improving the infrastructure.
“If you want to see the impact of how the Chinese are transforming Africa, ask a person in the rural parts of Africa, ask a person who did not have a road, did not have water, did not have a hospital or school. Suddenly those things are being done… They [the Chinese] are bringing about change that we have not seen before and you cannot turn a blind eye to it.”
Over the years, Ngowi has had massive success in turning the Helvetic Group into an $8-million company. Last year he made the FORBES 30 Under 30: Africa’s Best Young Entrepreneurs list. Ngowi hopes to turn Helvetic into a power brand that is able to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in Africa.
With the strong global interest in Africa, Ngowi still fears that foreign investors overlook African entrepreneurs.
“It will really be so pathetic if today we wait for European, Chinese or American solar contractors to come and light up our rural home while there is a younger person with a proven track record, already doing it, not being able to scale up.”
While the effects of climate change and global warming continue to destroy the world, Ngowi is focused on educating the youth and making changes that will benefit generations to come. For him renewable energy is not a business, it’s a way of life that captures the light.

Tag: Solar Energy

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

A Green Energy Revolution: The Sun Is Shining On Africa’s Solar Sector

Global Solar Generation Growth Rate Up 29% In 2024; South Africa Sees Imports Of 3.8 GW Of Solar Panels

Small Giants: Nigerian Entrepreneur On The Power Of Solar And Staying Innovative

The Green Eye For Energy