The growth of solar installations in South Africa slowed down in 2024, reaching only 35% of 2023 levels.
This was revealed in the annual Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) Africa Solar Outlook report for 2025, citing data from energy think tank Ember.
Africa’s contribution to global solar capacity fell to just 0,5% in 2024 – the lowest level in over a decade. AFSIA noted that this underperformance does not reflect the continent’s vast solar potential or its urgent need for new power generation capacity, the report says. “It is hoped that financing streams evolve in the coming years so that Africa can fully exploit its unrivalled solar potential.”
Despite the slowdown, South Africa retained its position as the leading solar market on the continent, accounting for 50% of Africa’s installed solar capacity. However, this share has dropped from 2023 when the country was responsible for 80% of total installations. South Africa also remains the only African nation in the global “Gigawatt Club”, which includes countries with over one gigawatt of installed solar capacity.
Storage, storage, storage!
In contrast to the decline in solar installations, the report highlighted a sharp increase in energy storage capacity across Africa. Installed storage grew by 1 484 MWh in 2024 compared to the previous year. “This exponential growth is likely to continue,” the report says. It identified 18 GWh of storage projects currently under development.
The growth of this market has been spurred by the introduction of lithium-ion batteries. In the past 24 months, new production capacity has been established, resulting in overcapacity and increased competition among manufacturers. As a result, prices have decreased by 20%, the report says.
Solar and storage projects are becoming standard for new utility-scale developments with South Africa leading this trend. As an example, the report highlights the Kenhardt 1-2-3 project by Scatec, which features 540 MW of solar capacity and 225 MW of battery storage.
Industry experts expect rooftop solar installations to rebound in 2025. For more on this story, click here.
