Africa’s clean energy transition is gathering pace as governments, utilities, manufacturers, and private companies accelerate investments in solar power, decentralized energy systems, industrial decarbonization, and sustainable infrastructure. New projects across Egypt, Nigeria, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, and Eswatini demonstrate how renewable energy is improving energy security, reducing carbon emissions, lowering operating costs, and supporting long-term economic growth.
Egypt is advancing industrial decarbonization by reviewing the UNDP-backed Solar Energy in Industry Initiative (SETI), which aims to install 200 MW of rooftop solar capacity across 20 state-owned industrial facilities. The project will be implemented through an independent power producer (IPP) model supported by a USD 150 million credit line, allowing factories to adopt renewable energy without significant upfront capital investment. The initiative is expected to reduce energy costs, improve industrial competitiveness, lower carbon emissions, reduce pressure on the national electricity grid, and strengthen Egypt’s renewable energy targets.
Egypt is also expanding its industrial manufacturing partnership with ABB to increase local production and exports. ABB said some of its electrical products already contain 78 percent locally manufactured components. During the first half of 2026, the company exported around 25 percent of its Egyptian production to more than 60 countries, reinforcing Egypt’s position as a regional manufacturing and export hub. The collaboration is expected to increase local content, attract investment, strengthen industrial supply chains, create skilled jobs, and promote energy-efficient manufacturing.
Eswatini and Japan have signed a sustainability-focused agreement to modernize airport infrastructure using environmentally friendly technologies. The partnership will improve operational efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, support greener airport operations, strengthen regional connectivity, stimulate tourism, and advance climate-resilient infrastructure through Japanese financial and technical cooperation.
In Mozambique, TotalEnergies is integrating solar power into its Mozambique LNG project at Afungi to reduce the carbon footprint of one of Africa’s largest liquefied natural gas developments. Solar generation will supply part of the project’s electricity demand, reducing reliance on diesel-powered generation, improving operational efficiency, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting the company’s lower-emission energy strategy.
Nigeria continues to expand commercial solar deployment. Grene Capital has increased the solar capacity at Abuja’s Jabi Lake Mall from 600 kWp to 1.5 MWp by adding 900 kWp of photovoltaic capacity in partnership with Elektron Renewables. The upgraded installation is expected to generate approximately 175,000 kWh of clean electricity every month while preventing around 1,680 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The project improves energy resilience, reduces diesel dependence, lowers operating costs, and strengthens environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance for one of Nigeria’s largest retail destinations.
Nigeria is also expanding renewable energy in higher education. The Federal Government has started construction of a 1.6 MW solar hybrid mini-grid at the Federal University of Transportation, Daura (FUTD). The decentralized renewable energy system will provide reliable electricity for teaching, research, and campus operations while reducing dependence on diesel generators and the national grid, supporting the country’s broader clean energy and rural electrification strategy.
Senegal’s national water utility, Sen’Eau, is accelerating solar energy deployment across major water production facilities to reduce rising electricity costs and improve operational sustainability. The renewable energy investment will lower dependence on conventional grid electricity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy security, and enhance the resilience of essential public water infrastructure.
South Africa’s largest food producer is investing heavily in self-generation through solar energy and other alternative power solutions to reduce reliance on Eskom. The company is deploying renewable energy systems across multiple production facilities to protect operations from power outages, lower electricity costs, reduce carbon emissions, improve operational resilience, and strengthen long-term sustainability while ensuring uninterrupted food production.
Public sector renewable energy adoption is also expanding in Zambia. The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has commissioned a 220 kW solar photovoltaic system to reduce dependence on the national electricity grid and improve operational reliability. The installation will lower electricity costs, strengthen energy security, reduce the agency’s carbon footprint, and support uninterrupted government services while contributing to Zambia’s broader renewable energy objectives.
These projects highlight the rapid expansion of renewable energy across Africa, with utility-scale solar, rooftop photovoltaic systems, industrial decarbonization, commercial solar, mini-grids, and public sector clean energy investments becoming central to improving electricity access, strengthening energy security, reducing emissions, and accelerating sustainable economic development across the continent.
SHAFANA FAZAL
