The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) has published a new annual report on the use of photovoltaics (PV)in Africa. It was found that the continent added about 3.7 GW of new solar capacity in 2023. According to AFSIA, approximately 65% of new installations are company-owned industrial and commercial (C&I) facilities.
“Unlike other regions of the world, few large projects in Africa were connected to the energy grid in 2023 in response to government requests,” it added.
The association estimates that Africa exceeded the 16 GW threshold of total installed solar capacity at the end of December.
But “this does not take into account residential complexes that are not monitored by the AFSIA,”. it also added.
This data is based only on identified projects, although some projects may be unknown at this point, it explained.
In 2023, 3.7 GW of new capacity was installed on the continent. Almost 3 GW of total output came from South Africa, mainly through C&I projects (75%). The country’s PV connection capacity increased from 4.2 GW in 2022 to 7.1 GW at the end of 2023.
“By quickly changing tactics and focusing on domestic consumption, South Africans are showing the rest of the continent the way forward.”A path for which there are alternative options, and which is financially sustainable in the event of a failure of the national public service,” AFSIA said. “South Africans had no choice but to adapt very quickly. »
Burkina Faso has installed the second largest solar capacity in Africa with a capacity of 92 MW, followed by Mauritania with 84 MW, Kenya with 69.5 MW and the Democratic Republic of Congo with 40 MW. With the exception of Mauritania, where all new capabilities are C&I activities, these countries have implemented major projects. Fifteen other countries installed more than 10 MW last year, but most African countries are still below 1 MW of installed capacity.
Source: AFSIA
