Could China's solar panels help meet Africa's energy needs?

From Algeria on the Mediterranean coast to landlocked Zambia in the south, countries across Africa have been importing significantly more solar panels from China this year than in the past, which analysts say could be the start of a massive effort to help meet the continent’s power demands with renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.

Where are solar panels coming from in Africa?

In North Africa, countries like Algeria and Egypt are building massive utility-scale solar power plants that require large numbers of panels. But in Sub-Sahara Africa, the panels are being imported by more rural communities in places that traditionally haven’t been connected to the grid at all.

Is there a solar industry in Africa?

The problem is that there’s almost no local solar manufacturing industry in Africa, says Elena Kiryakova, a research fellow at the ODI Global think tank who studies China’s climate investment in Africa.

Are Chinese solar companies supplying Africa's solar demand?

Since Chinese solar companies have significant price advantages over manufacturers in other countries, they are always the go-to option for supplying Africa’s solar demand. There are two types of demand driving the solar boom in African countries, Echard says.

Are solar panels transforming the energy landscape in Sub-sahara Africa?

But in Sub-Sahara Africa, the panels are being imported by more rural communities in places that traditionally haven’t been connected to the grid at all. Just like in Pakistan, this network of distributed rooftop solar panels is transforming the energy landscape.

Where are solar panels made?

More than 80 percent of the world’s panels are made in China, according to the International Energy Agency, thanks to government subsidies, economies of scale, and technological improvements implemented by local companies. But until recently, the bulk of these panels flowed to Europe, North America, and other Asian countries.