Solar photovoltaic power generation system in Africa

Africa has significant potential to become a leader in solar power generation and solar PV manufacturing. However, the continent faces several challenges, including market concentration, technological limitations, and financial constraints.

This work reviewed solar PV potential in Africa for three generational time-scales: present, near future and far future. For the present, the potential of wide scale rooftop solar PV systems was reviewed, particularly in African cities.

Africa holds vast solar potential, with 60% of the world's best solar resources, yet solar PV currently accounts for only 3% of the continent's electricity generation. As global efforts intensify to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, Africa's role in achieving this target is more critical than ever.

Individually, most African countries lack the financial resources, technological capabilities, and infrastructure needed to develop a competitive solar PV manufacturing sector. Moreover, the global solar PV market is highly concentrated, with China dominating nearly every segment of the value chain.

Table 5. List of recommendations for solar PV systems in Africa based on the reviewed literature. Affordability of rooftop solar PV should be increased through government incentives such as appropriate FiT, subsidies, tax relief, public–private partnership, grants, loans (low/zero-interest), and community loan sharing programmes.

For optimal utilisation of solar PV capacity across Africa, discussions on establishing regional grid codes and harmonizing national grid codes should be given priority where possible. This should be considered a foundational element of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM). Set requirements for modern inverters.