A report from the UK-based think tank Ember reveals that official statistics significantly underestimate solar energy growth in Africa. The organization found that national reporting is available for only 36 out of 54 countries, with data for 2025 present for just 14 of them.
Ember estimates that African solar capacity grew by 12 GW in 2025, which is double the figures reported by the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency. This discrepancy is largely attributed to the rapid expansion of distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar panels.
Data on Chinese solar panel exports to Africa confirms this trend, showing a surge to 23 GW in the 12 months ending in June 2026, a 53% increase compared to the previous year. Ember projects a further 45% growth in installations for 2026, with distributed solar accounting for roughly 20 GW of the expected 26 GW total.
Egypt serves as a key example of this development, where distributed solar makes up 43% of the country's growth despite large-scale utility projects. Notable developments include the 1.8 GW BenBan solar farm and a planned 1.1 GW facility in the Nagaa Hammadi region, which will feature a 200 MWh battery storage system.
International cooperation remains central to Egypt's energy strategy. In 2023, ACWA Power announced a $4 billion green hydrogen project, while the European Union committed a financing package of up to €690 million to expand the Egyptian electricity network, aiming to add 22 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.
