Solar photovoltaic manufacturing in Africa: opportunity or mirage

This research paper examines Africa's potential to develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing sector by leveraging its mineral resources and solar irradiance. It analyzes the barriers to entry, such as China's market dominance and high capital requirements, and proposes a regionalized strategy to overcome these challenges.

• Africa possesses significant natural resource endowments critical for solar PV production, including copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, and tin in Nigeria and Rwanda. However, the continent currently captures only a small share of the value because most mineral exports are in unprocessed or semi-processed forms.
• The global solar PV market is highly concentrated, with China controlling over 80% of the value chain from raw material extraction to module assembly. This dominance, combined with the capital-intensive nature of polysilicon production—which accounts for about 30% of a solar module's value—creates high entry barriers for African nations.
• Africa faces severe internal constraints to manufacturing, including a lack of technological capacity, underdeveloped semiconductor and electronics industries, and insufficient foreign direct investment. Only Tunisia and São Tomé and Príncipe have shown significant comparative advantage in related sectors.
• Solar power is identified as a critical solution for Africa's energy deficit, as approximately 43% of the population lacks electricity access, with rural rates exceeding 80%. The paper argues that a regionalized strategy—pooling resources and coordinating policies across countries—is the most viable path to building a competitive manufacturing sector.

APA

Ndubuisi, G., & Avenyo, E. K. (2024). Solar photovoltaic manufacturing in Africa: opportunity or mirage. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/solar-photovoltaic-manufacturing-in-africa-opportunity-or-mirage

Chicago

Ndubuisi, Gideon, and Elvis Korku Avenyo. Solar photovoltaic manufacturing in Africa: opportunity or mirage. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2024. https://afripoli.org/solar-photovoltaic-manufacturing-in-africa-opportunity-or-mirage.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ndubuisi |first1=Gideon |last2=Avenyo |first2=Elvis Korku |title=Solar photovoltaic manufacturing in Africa: opportunity or mirage |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=25 September 2024 |url=https://afripoli.org/solar-photovoltaic-manufacturing-in-africa-opportunity-or-mirage |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ndubuisi2024solar, author = {Ndubuisi, Gideon and Avenyo, Elvis Korku}, title = {{Solar photovoltaic manufacturing in Africa: opportunity or mirage}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://afripoli.org/solar-photovoltaic-manufacturing-in-africa-opportunity-or-mirage}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }