Nigeria continues to strengthen its position among the top African nations leveraging solar energy, with the country adding 63.5 Megawatt peak (MWp) capacity in 2024, according to a report by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA). This brings Nigeria’s total installed solar capacity to 385.7 MWp by the end of the year, as highlighted in the AFSIA Africa Solar Outlook 2025 report.
The report attributes the rising interest in solar energy in Nigeria to the removal of fuel subsidies, which has prompted many Nigerians to seek solar solutions as an alternative.
“Nigeria has started feeling the positive impact of the fuel subsidy removal, with an increased interest in solar-plus-storage as a cheaper alternative to diesel,” the report stated.
Nigeria’s position in Africa’s solar landscape
South Africa retains its leadership in Africa’s solar sector and remains the continent’s sole member of the “Gigawatt Club.” Meanwhile, Egypt ascended to second place, boosted by commissioning two significant projects in Kom Ombo. Zambia, grappling with severe power shortages, ranked third by adopting solar energy in emergency mode.
Nigeria ranks fourth on the continent, driven by the high cost of electricity from the national grid and the subsidy removal on fossil fuels. Angola rounds out the top five, completing utility-scale solar projects initiated two years ago, including two 27 MWp installations.
The report reveals that global solar installations hit unprecedented levels in 2024, with an estimated 503 GWp of capacity added—representing a 44% growth compared to 2023. While Africa’s growth was more modest, it maintained a strong pace, adding 2.5 GWp in new installations for the third consecutive year.
Africa’s total installed solar capacity now stands at 19.2 GWp (excluding residential installations). However, the continent’s solar capacity still accounts for less than 1% of global installations.
AFSIA CEO, Mr. John van Zuylen, unveiled the report during the Powerelec Nigeria conference and exhibition in Lagos. He highlighted the uneven distribution of solar adoption across the continent:
“In 2024, South Africa and Egypt accounted for almost 80% of all new solar installations, representing 50% and 29%, respectively. However, with multiple projects announced and under development in countries new to solar, we may see a more distributed spread in the coming years.”
The report noted that the Central African Republic leads in the share of solar energy in its national electricity mix, with more than 40% of its grid electricity derived from solar. Other countries where solar contributes significantly to power consumption include Mauritania (20.7%), Namibia (13.4%), Somalia (11.6%), Malawi (11.4%), The Gambia (10.6%), and Cape Verde (10.5%).
Despite Nigeria’s progress in installed capacity, solar energy accounted for just 1.6% of the country’s total energy mix in 2024.
Nigeria’s growing solar capacity demonstrates its commitment to diversifying its energy sources. However, the modest contribution of solar to its overall energy mix underscores the need for further investments and policy support to expand its role in achieving sustainable and reliable energy for all.
