Nearly 970 MW of utility-scale solar capacity was installed in the first quarter of 2026 alone, surpassing the total capacity added during the entire year of 2025. This milestone reflects a structural shift as a long-building project pipeline finally converts into operational assets, with total installed solar capacity across all segments now reaching 26.15 GW.
Record Growth Signals a Mature Market
The first quarter surge was led by North Africa, which installed 672 MW of new capacity compared with Southern Africa's 218 MW. Egypt accounted for nearly 600 MW from a single project, while Tunisia added 72 MW. Major international developers dominated the activity, with Scatec delivering 672 MW and Engie adding 180 MW in South Africa.
While Southern Africa remains the continent's largest utility-scale solar base with over 5.5 GW installed, smaller markets are also contributing, with new capacity recorded in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. The development pipeline now stands at approximately 133 GW, though a substantial portion remains at early stages with no clear path to financial close.
South Africa's Flagship Wind Project
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched commercial operations of the 155-MW Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm in Mpumalanga Province in late July, hailing it as a demonstration of growing China-South Africa cooperation in clean energy. The facility, located in South Africa's traditional coal-producing region, is the first phase of Seriti Green's planned 900-MW renewable energy programme.
Addressing the launch, Ramaphosa said South Africa's future energy mix will combine coal, wind, hydropower, nuclear, solar, gas and other emerging technologies to ensure energy security while advancing decarbonisation. Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng noted that "Chinese enterprises are not merely visitors from afar, but partners deeply rooted in South Africa."
Zambia's Hydropower-Solar Integration Milestone
Zambia has commissioned the Lunsemfwa Solar PV Project, the country's first hydro-solar complementary facility, built by Chinese contractor POWERCHINA. The 27 MW plant uses a "solar-priority, hydro-regulated" operational model: during the day, the solar plant generates power while the hydropower station stores water, and at night or on overcast days, the hydropower supplements supply.
The project was completed 26 days ahead of schedule and provides a model for integrated development of traditional hydropower and new energy. Zambia's energy permanent secretary said the government has added over 800 MW of power from various solar plants countrywide, contributing to 1,476 MW added to the grid since the UPND formed government.
Nigeria's Manufacturing Ambitions
Nigeria is making significant strides in localising its renewable energy value chain, with installed solar panel manufacturing capacity increasing from 120 MW two years ago to approximately 300 MW currently—a 150 percent increase. With an additional 3.7 GW in the pipeline, Nigeria is emerging as a leading renewable energy manufacturing hub in West Africa.
Rural Electrification Agency Managing Director Dr Abba Aliyu attributed this progress to deliberate policy direction under President Bola Tinubu's "Nigeria First Policy," which prioritises local content development. In 2025, imports of solar cells and components for local assembly reached 837 MW, more than the cumulative 375 MW imported in all previous years combined, overtaking finished product imports.
Approximately $425 million in investment has been earmarked for the establishment of eight renewable energy manufacturing facilities across the country, while locally manufactured solar panels are already being exported from Lagos to Accra, Ghana.
Decentralised Solar Boom
Nigeria has emerged as sub-Saharan Africa's largest small-scale solar market, driven by businesses and households seeking alternatives to unreliable grid electricity. A BloombergNEF report projects Nigeria will dominate the region's small-scale solar additions through 2035, estimating that Nigeria added 3.1 GW of small-scale solar capacity in 2024 and 2025, bringing the cumulative installed capacity to about 6 GW.
The research attributes the rapid growth to worsening electricity shortages, rising diesel and petrol costs, and increasing demand for reliable power. BloombergNEF observed that Nigeria's experience mirrors that of Pakistan, where consumers have increasingly turned to rooftop solar to compensate for inadequate grid supply.
Egypt Advances Renewable-Powered Desalination
Egypt's cabinet has approved two grants from the African Development Bank totalling approximately €780,000 to support technical and environmental studies for a renewable-energy-powered seawater desalination project under the NWFE programme. The first grant, worth €500,000, will finance technical studies for five desalination plants powered by renewable energy, to be developed through public-private partnerships across four governorates, adding 525,000 cubic metres of water per day. A second grant of €280,000 will support environmental and social impact assessments and capacity-building programmes.
EBID Commits $510 Million to West African Development
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development has approved five strategic operations valued at more than $510 million, including €60.62 million for the Tinkisso II Hydropower Project in Guinea, which will provide clean electricity to more than 350,000 people with an installed capacity of 11 megawatts and annual generation of 48 gigawatt-hours.
EBID President Dr George Agyekum Donkor said the operations support transformative investments that strengthen regional connectivity, expand access to essential services, promote sustainable energy and mobilise capital for private sector development.
With reporting from Xinhua, People's Daily, EWN, Ahram Online, Ecofin Agency, ZAWYA, BusinessDay Nigeria and ZNBC.
