The African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has released its Africa Solar Outlook 2026, the most detailed country-by-country assessment of solar deployment on the continent to date. Combining project-level data with international trade statistics for the first time, the report found that solar has been significantly underestimated for years: by the end of 2025, AFSIA had tracked more than 42,000 solar projects representing 296 GWp of cumulative capacity, with 23.4 GWp already operational — a 26% jump in operating capacity versus 2024. AFSIA CEO John van Zuylen said the data shows Africa is "no longer a marginal solar market" but is now experiencing the fastest solar growth of any region worldwide.
For consultants and investors, the headline takeaway is that the continent's solar sector is larger and more mature than commonly assumed — a signal worth factoring into market-entry and financing conversations with clients.
Source: AFSIA, Africa Solar Outlook 2026 (afsiasolar.com)