Nigeria has climbed to second place among Africa’s largest importers of solar panels, according to new research from energy think tank Ember. The development comes amid a continent-wide surge in demand for renewable energy solutions.
In the year leading up to June 2025, Nigeria brought in 1,721 megawatts (MW) worth of solar panels—pushing past Egypt and ranking only behind South Africa. Across Africa, panel imports hit a record 15,032 MW, representing a 60% increase from the previous year’s 9,379 MW.
The boom in solar uptake is spreading beyond South Africa, which dominated the market during its 2023 energy crisis. Countries such as Algeria (1,199 MW), Zambia, Botswana, and Sudan have recorded sharp increases, while smaller nations including Liberia, Benin, Angola, and Ethiopia have tripled their purchases.
Potential Energy Impact
Analysts say if these imports are fully deployed, they could transform power supply in several African countries. For example, Sierra Leone’s recent shipments alone could deliver energy equal to 61% of its 2023 generation capacity, while Chad could see nearly half of its power output boosted.
For Nigeria, the impact is more modest in generation terms because of its large energy base, but businesses and households stand to gain through reduced reliance on diesel generators. According to Ember, the cost of installing solar in Nigeria can be recovered in less than six months due to savings on diesel fuel.
Challenges Remain
Despite the growth, solar still makes up a small fraction of Africa’s overall imports. Ember’s data shows that in most of the continent’s top solar-importing countries, petroleum imports outweigh solar panels by factors ranging from 30 to more than 100.
Ember’s Chief Analyst, Dave Jones, described the surge as a “pivotal moment” but noted that the full effect of solar adoption is still unfolding. “This is just the beginning. The pace of change is fast, but deeper analysis is needed to understand how solar is reshaping Africa’s energy future,” he said.
Policy Tensions in Nigeria
The report lands at a time when Nigeria’s government is considering restrictions on solar panel imports. The Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, recently announced plans to ban imports in order to promote local manufacturing.
Officials argue the policy could stimulate domestic production, conserve foreign reserves, and align with President Bola Tinubu’s industrialisation agenda. However, energy experts warn that such a move could worsen Nigeria’s energy challenges by limiting access to affordable renewable options.
