"An abundance of sunlight, economies craving reliable power supplies, and a technology becoming massively cheap: Solar energy is widely recognized as an excellent solution for Africa. According to 2024 data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), solar ranks among the cheapest energy sources worldwide, costing just $0.044 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) after prices for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules dropped by 90% in only 13 years."
"An analysis of Chinese export data carried out by British renewable energy think tank Ember indicates a massive injection of solar equipment in Africa. Over just 12 months, China shipped solar panels with an overall capacity of 15 GW to the continent. Based on historical export data, AFSIA estimates Africa's total installed solar capacity at around 75 GW since 2000 significantly more than the figure provided by IRENA."
Solar costs have fallen dramatically, with PV module prices dropping about 90% over 13 years and solar now among the cheapest energy sources at roughly $0.044 per kWh. Africa currently shows relatively low official installed capacity (about 18 GW, roughly 1% of global PV), in part due to limited investment capital and existing grid limitations. Recent Chinese exports shipped roughly 15 GW of panels to Africa in 12 months, and AFSIA estimates cumulative installed capacity around 75 GW since 2000 when including small-scale and off-grid systems. Several countries, led by Algeria and growing markets like Nigeria, Zambia, Rwanda, Senegal, and Cote d'Ivoire, are seeing rapid uptake, indicating a strong shift toward wider solar adoption across the continent.
Read at www.dw.com
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