NAIROBI, Kenya — Africa’s largest economies are forging ahead with plans to establish robust domestic solar manufacturing capabilities, a strategic move aimed at fostering self-reliance amidst growing concerns over reliance on imports from China, which currently dominate the global solar market. Industry experts report that Ethiopia, South Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria are leading this charge, investing in the localization of solar power equipment manufacturing, from module assembly to more advanced production stages. Despite these efforts, China is expected to maintain its global leadership in the production of solar cells and other components, with its exports surging due to domestic supply surpluses.
Between 2010 and 2024, Chinese renewable energy investments and related construction projects in Africa reached $66 billion, according to ODI Global. South Africa’s utility, Eskom, is planning a 1-gigawatt solar manufacturing facility to capture more value from its fast-growing solar market and meet changing electricity demands. Nigeria’s solar panel production is also expanding rapidly, with local assembly capacity doubling in the past two years.
The push for domestic solar manufacturing is part of a broader structural shift in Africa’s power markets, with the increased adoption of rooftop and distributed solar systems in South Africa reducing national grid demand and prompting utilities to consider diversification. South Africa, the continent’s largest importer of solar equipment, is seen as a prime candidate for localized production due to its scale of demand. Benjamin Clarke, policy director at the Africa Solar Industry Association, notes that while actual manufacturing capacity remains limited, the shift represents a significant change in industrial policy and green economic development.
Morocco has doubled its production to around 1 gigawatt a year, with Egypt’s gigawatt-scale projects coming online.
The industry group GOGLA estimates that over 10 million solar kits were sold across Africa in 2025, serving approximately 148 million people.
However, Africa has no commercial — scale solar cell manufacturing, meaning that while new assembly plants are emerging, they still rely on imported Chinese components. Despite China’s investment in building manufacturing capacity and technical skills in Africa, experts say the transfer of technology remains limited. Hannah Pitt from the Rhodium Group’s energy and climate practice suggests that Africa’s reliance on China for solar supply is likely to persist in certain regions.
As Africa continues to invest in domestic solar manufacturing, the next few years will be crucial in determining the success of this ambitious initiative.
The shift towards homegrown solar is a strategic move that could potentially transform Africa’s energy landscape, though challenges such as significant investment, technological expertise, and skilled labor shortages remain.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: panafricannews
Source: Pan-African News Wire
