Africa’s solar demand is rising as countries look for cheaper and more reliable power. The next contest is whether the continent remains a buyer of Chinese equipment or builds factories that can create jobs and retain more value locally.
African countries are moving beyond buying solar panels from China and are beginning to build more of the equipment at home.
Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Ethiopia are among the countries expanding plans for local solar manufacturing as demand grows for more reliable electricity.
China will remain central to that push. It dominates the production of solar cells and other components, while African manufacturers still rely heavily on Chinese imports for the parts that carry the highest value.
That dependence has grown with Africa’s solar market. China’s solar exports to the continent have risen as businesses and households look for alternatives to unreliable grids and expensive diesel generation.
