Africa Is Buying a Record Number of Chinese Solar Panels

image via WIRED

August 21, 2025, 3:00 PM

• •African nations are increasingly importing solar panels from China, potentially marking a shift towards renewable energy.
• •In May 2025, African countries imported a record 1.57 GW of solar panels from China.
• •The trend mirrors developments in other countries like Pakistan, where the cost-effectiveness of Chinese solar panels is driving adoption.
• •While some nations are considering local solar panel manufacturing, most African countries are prioritizing cost-effective imports.

Across Africa, countries are significantly increasing their imports of solar panels from China, potentially signaling a major shift towards renewable energy sources to meet the continent's power demands. In May 2025, African nations imported a record-breaking 1.57 Gigawatts of solar panels from China, driven by the cost-effectiveness of Chinese panels. This mirrors trends in other regions like Pakistan, where affordable solar panels have spurred widespread adoption. Despite debates about local manufacturing, the current focus remains on leveraging cheap imports to expand access to electricity across Africa.

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