Africa is importing more solar panels than ever before, with the number of countries sourcing panels from China climbing in the past year, according to a new Ember report, 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. Overall, South Africa remains the continent’s largest importer, accounting for a third of solar panels shipped from China to Africa since 2021. Its imports peaked in 2023 during the height of the country’s energy crisis.

China, which manufactures 80% of the world’s solar panels, remains Africa’s main supplier. “Africa depends heavily on imports because domestic solar panel manufacturing is still limited,” the report noted. But Morocco has scaled up production to 1GW a year, while South Africa has reached a similar capacity. It’s a sign that local industries are beginning to take root.