Africa’s installed solar capacity has exceeded 20 GWp across all market segments, according to the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) 2025 half-year update. More than 10 GWp is under construction.
AFSIA’s database tracks about 40 000 solar projects at various stages of development, covering utility-scale, commercial and industrial, mini-grids, solar home systems and residential installations (in a limited number of countries). South Africa accounts for roughly half of all operational capacity followed by Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.
In 2025, new capacity came mainly from Southern Africa with Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia adding projects. In North Africa, Algeria has initiated a 3 GW programme across 20 projects –some due for completion in 2025. Senegal has added 54 MWp this year.
AFSIA’s figures show Africa’s solar capacity grew 44% in 2024 after a 22% increase in 2023. By contrast, SolarPower Europe expects European solar capacity to decline by 1,4% in 2025 while the US Solar Energy Industries Association reports a 7% year-on-year drop and a 43% decline between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.
Utility-scale projects make up 70 % of the 10 GWp under construction. South Africa holds 28% of this total with Algeria, Egypt, Angola, Tunisia and Zambia also active.
