Reference News Network, September 1 report - According to the website of the American "New York Times" on August 28, an analysis by the UK energy think tank "Unburnt Coal" of trade data shows that Chinese companies have exported a large amount of solar equipment to many African countries over the past year.

The report pointed out that the total import of solar panels in the past 12 months could significantly increase power generation in many African countries.

The report stated that this is an important part of China's rise in the global renewable energy technology manufacturing and sales sector. Chinese companies produce the vast majority of solar panels worldwide, as well as various components used in the production of solar panels.

Today, low production costs and high market demand have strengthened this trend. Chinese companies are urgently seeking new markets, and African countries offer a huge market space. At the same time, there are hundreds of millions of people across the African continent who still do not have access to electricity. Even in areas with power supply, power outages are common, a problem that has led many businesses in recent years to turn to noisy, polluting diesel generators.

According to an analysis released by "Unburnt Coal" recently, the import of solar panels from China by African countries increased by about 60% between July 2024 and June 2025. The cumulative installed capacity of these solar products exceeds 15 gigawatts.

According to the report, the imports of solar panels in South Africa and Nigeria, two major economies in Africa, ranked among the highest. However, the range of countries importing solar panels and components (which can be simply assembled into finished products) from China is very wide, including Sierra Leone and Chad.

Another major importer in Africa, Algeria, may use solar components produced in China for photovoltaic power stations built by Chinese enterprises. In other countries in the region, solar panels are quietly spreading across rooftops of residential and commercial buildings in urban and rural areas.

The report said that Kevin Gallagher, an expert at Boston University, said this study shows that China faces broad market opportunities, especially when the United States has abandoned support for what it calls "green energy innovation." He pointed out that affordable imported solar panels can help African industries develop green energy, "Africa doesn't have time to care about geopolitical tensions; they need cheap green energy."

Additionally, according to the website of the British "New Scientist" weekly magazine on August 26, the number of solar panels transported to African countries by China has reached a new high over the past year, indicating that the African continent is rapidly developing renewable energy. This will help expand the use of cheap clean electricity and reduce African countries' reliance on imported fossil fuels.

The report said that Dave Jones, an expert at the "Unburnt Coal" energy think tank, said: "Although the import of solar panels in Africa has not yet experienced explosive growth, it is already the beginning of a takeoff." Jones and his colleagues analyzed data on Chinese solar panel exports since 2017. Like most parts of the world, almost all solar panels in the African continent are imported from China.

Researchers found that in the past year ending in June 2025, the export of solar panels to Africa increased by 60% compared to the previous year, with a total volume slightly above 15 gigawatts.

Imports surged mainly due to South Africa in 2022 and 2023, but this time the growth trend spans the entire African continent: the imports of about 20 countries reached new highs. "This is not led by one or two countries," Jones said, "for me, this is the most astonishing part."

The report said that South Africa remains the country with the largest imports, accounting for about a quarter of the total imports. However, in the past two years, the number of solar panels imported from China by African countries other than South Africa has also increased significantly.

Assuming all solar panels imported in the past year have been installed, researchers estimate that the solar panels imported by 16 countries would be sufficient to meet at least 5% of the electricity demand. This could begin to offset more expensive fossil fuel imports.

"A fair energy transition in Africa is no longer a future wish, it is happening," said Amos Wemanya of Greenpeace Africa. "This transition has great potential to enhance our resilience against climate change and change the way Africa develops."

This expert pointed out: "The real challenge we face is to convert this momentum into lasting results, through coordinated financing, policies, and local industries, ensuring that clean energy is not only available, but also reliable, affordable, and accessible to all Africans."

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7545035349668545051/

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