Africa has entered a new era of renewable energy growth, with recent data showing record solar import volumes, particularly from China. As panels flood African markets, the urgent question arises: How can these imports be harnessed to deliver sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy across the continent?
The Africa Energy Indaba, scheduled for 3 – 5 March 2026 in Cape Town, will assemble industry leaders, policy-makers, financiers, and technology innovators to tackle this core challenge: converting solar imports into real, operational power systems. Conversations at the Indaba will centre on building local manufacturing, advancing storage and grid integration, and unlocking financing and industrial strategies for clean energy.
“With Africa experiencing a surge in solar imports, there is an unprecedented opportunity to transition from equipment-buyers to drivers of clean energy ecosystems,” says Liz Hart, Managing Director at the Africa Energy Indaba.
Statistical Snapshot: Solar Imports in Africa (12 months to June 2025)
| Metric | Value / Change |
| Total solar panels imported into Africa | 15,032 MW *Power Technology+2Energy Institute+2 |
| Year-over-year increase | +60 % (up from 9,379 MW prior period) *Power Technology+2Energy Institute+2 |
| Growth outside South Africa (two-year trend) | Imports nearly tripled from ~3,734 MW to ~11,248 MW *Ember Energy+2Solar&StorageXtra – Light reading+2 |
| Top importers (12 months to June 2025) | South Africa (~3.8 GW), Nigeria (~1.7 GW), Algeria (~1.2 GW) *SolarBe Global+3pv magazine International+3Energy Institute+3 |
| Example potential generation | If fully installed, imports in Sierra Leone could generate 61% of the country’s 2023 electricity output *Energy Institute+2AEA+2 |
The 2026 Indaba programme of events will explore:
For exhibitors, Africa Energy Indaba offers a high-impact platform to demonstrate solutions at the heart of Africa’s solar transformation — including panels, inverters, battery systems, grid tech, and financing models. For delegates, it is a critical forum to meet the decision-makers, innovators, and funders defining continent-scale energy transitions.
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