Prices of photovoltaic panels for industry and commerce in Douala Cameroon

How much solar PV is installed in Africa?

IRENA data and statistics show that Africa’s total cumulative installed capacity of solar PV jumped from around 500 MW in 2013 to around 1 330 MW in 2014 and 2 100 MW at the end of 2015 (Figure 7). Total installed solar PV capacity therefore more than quadrupled in two years.

Is solar PV the future of Africa?

The emerging potential of solar PV is perhaps the most exciting development on the continent from an energy perspective. Africa has excellent, widely distributed solar resources, yet the continent’s solar PV and concentrating solar power (CSP) markets are in their infancy.

Where are solar panels installed in Africa?

Most of the grid-connected residential solar PV systems in Africa are installed either in North African countries or in South Africa. Tunisia and South Africa in particular have established markets, while Morocco has successfully used solar PV to electrify villages. These markets have competitive costs compared to OECD countries.

Are utility-scale solar PV projects a good idea in Africa?

Many of the latest proposed utility-scale solar PV projects are targeting competitive installed cost levels that are comparable to today’s lowest-cost projects.4 This is a very positive signal, given the nascent market for solar PV in Africa and the challenging business environment for infrastructure projects in many African countries.

What is the largest solar PV market in Africa?

This is an important issue, because although the utility-scale grid-connected solar PV market is the largest market in Africa in terms of MW deployed, the of-grid market is the largest in terms of number of systems deployed (IRENA, 2015b). The of-grid market comprises SHS and mini-grid systems.

Are competitive cost structures for utility-scale solar PV achievable in Africa?

This suggests that with the right regulatory framework and access to finance, competitive cost structures for utility-scale solar PV are achievable throughout Africa. The key uncertainties are whether these projects actually will reach financial close and if these ex-ante cost estimates can be achieved. 20 See Enel Green Power (2016).