South Africa and Egypt remain Africas largest solar markets in absolute terms but some of the continents most advanced solar power systems are emerging in far smaller and island-based grids, according to new data from the Africa Solar Outlook 2026 published by the African Solar Industry Association AFSIA.
Presented during a webinar on January 14 by AFSIA Chief Executive John van Zuylen , the outlook shows South Africa and Egypt together account for the majority of Africas grid-connected solar capacity driven by utility-scale procurement programmes, commercial and industrial markets and, increasingly, integrated storage projects. Both countries are described as critical to Africas long-term decarbonisation trajectory.
However, when measured by solar penetration, per-capita deployment and system share, several smaller and island systems rank among the continents strongest performers.
