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Why 2026 marks a turning point for Africa's clean energy

 Solar power generation installation. [File, Standard]

This year, Africa’s solar story is entering a new and decisive chapter. What was once seen as slow and incremental progress has begun to transform into something far more dynamic.

The continent’s solar capacity, which reached 19.2 GW by the end of 2024, has grown steadily across utility-scale, commercial and industrial systems, mini-grids, and home installations. Despite the enormity of Africa’s solar potential, solar still represents only a small share of the continent’s total electricity generation. But the direction of change is unmistakable.

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