Africa’s solar surge is gaining momentum. The number of countries importing solar panels from China has climbed over the past year, according to a new Ember report, appropriately titled The first evidence of a take-off in solar in Africa.

The report found that 20 African countries set new records for solar panel imports in the 12 months to June 2025. Algeria stood out, importing 33 times more panels than the previous year, making it the second-largest African importer in the first seven months of 2025. The country is pushing to accelerate its renewable energy transition, with a target of 4GW of solar capacity by the end of 2025.

South Africa remains the continent’s largest importer, with imports peaking in 2023 during the height of the country’s energy crisis.