Africa’s PV Capacity Hits 20GW: Grace Solar’s Role & Projects

Market Pulse｜"Carbon Steel Vanguard" Africa Report

This in-depth analysis highlights Africa's monumental photovoltaic achievement in 2025 and explores the pivotal role of Grace Solar in advancing solar energy deployment through innovative, localized engineering solutions and a commitment to sustainable infrastructure development.

20GW Milestone: PV Momentum in Africa

In 2025, Africa's photovoltaic industry achieved a transformative milestone, adding 2.4GW of new capacity and exceeding 20GW in cumulative installations for the first time. John van Zuylen, CEO of the African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), described this achievement as “very positive,” highlighting a turning point for continental energy independence. Data shows that by the end of 2025, Africa's operational PV capacity had reached 23.4GW, reflecting a compound annual growth rate that outpaces many developed regions.

van Zuylen noted, “Export data indicates that Africa’s PV installations are showing positive and robust growth, which will translate into more projects and higher capacity.” According to detailed AFSIA reports, Africa’s solar import growth rate currently far exceeds that of most other regions globally. A key driver has been the strategic increase in imports of high-quality, cost-effective Chinese products, which has fundamentally altered the solar growth trajectories of many African nations. “Exports to Africa grew by 17% in 2025, while exports to most other regions declined during the same period. More notably, since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa has consistently been one of the three fastest-growing regions globally,” van Zuylen added. This trend suggests stakeholders are increasingly focused on long-term growth potential and positive market dynamics rather than short-term figures.

Figure 1: A detailed overview of a Grace Solar GS-Light intelligent tracker ground-mounted system installation in Africa, showcasing robust engineering and optimal land use.

This remarkable growth is underpinned by resilient and adaptive supply chains. Companies like Grace Solar are at the forefront, providing not just products but integrated solutions. Their high-performance mounting systems, designed to withstand Africa's diverse and often harsh climates—from the arid Sahara to humid coastal regions and high-altitude plateaus—are critical to ensuring project bankability and long-term yield.

Local Roots & Steady Progress in Africa

As global partnerships deepen Africa's energy transition, Grace Solar has emerged as a key localized engineering and supply partner. A significant example is the ongoing 35MW carbon steel ground-mount project initiated with a long-term African client in 2026. This project goes beyond simple supply, offering a fully customized solution meticulously tailored to local soil conditions, wind loads, and environmental factors, ensuring decades of reliable operation.

This capability is rooted in substantial corporate infrastructure. As a flagship member of the BYMEA Group with a registered capital of 500 million USD, Grace Solar operates with a team of 650 dedicated professionals. Its manufacturing prowess is housed in a 110,000 m² facility, supported by a 2,000 m² R&D and experiment center dedicated to testing and innovation. The company's market position is formidable—ranking among the global top 5 in solar mounting market share and holding the top position in the demanding Japanese market. With a track record of 48GW in global cumulative installed capacity and an annual production capacity of 15GW, Grace Solar brings proven scale and expertise to African projects.

Figure 2: Grace Solar's international engineering team conducts on-site analysis and planning for a large-scale solar mounting system installation, emphasizing technical collaboration.

The company's product portfolio, which includes the AI-enhanced GS-Light intelligent tracking system, the versatile GS-Smart ground mounting system, and the resilient GS-Energy roof mounting system, integrates cutting-edge technologies like IoT and energy storage. Backed by over 100 patents, Grace Solar is one of the few brands globally capable of delivering complete installation solutions for both Distributed Solar Power (DSP) and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) markets. Its products carry major international certifications—UL, TUV, CE, JIS, MCS, AS/NZS1170, and comprehensive Wind Tunnel Test Reports—including a bankability report for the GS-Light Tracker, a crucial document for project financing.

The success of the initial 35MW collaboration has fueled further ambition. Based on a solidified partnership and shared confidence in Africa's solar future, the client has now integrated over 200MW of PV projects into its multi-year development pipeline. Currently, Grace Solar's engineering team is deeply involved in comprehensive system design and preliminary planning for these ventures. The goal is clear: to utilize efficient, robust, and intelligently designed mounting systems as the foundation for building gigawatt-scale PV bases across the continent, reducing levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and accelerating deployment timelines.

Toward Africa's Sustainable Green Future

The evolution of Africa's PV market is distinctly shifting from a model of "single-component imports" to an advanced phase of "integrated systematic solution" cooperation. In this new paradigm, the value proposition of partners like the Chinese supply chain has expanded dramatically. It is no longer confined to exporting containers of products but encompasses end-to-end technical adaptation, co-development of project specifications, on-ground collaboration, and long-term operational service and maintenance support.

Through its deep local market engagement, Grace Solar embodies this shift. The company provides highly adaptable and reliable products and services, directly aligning with its core enterprise vision to "Bring Grace Solar to all homes" and its mission to "Mount every solar plant firm as rock, bring more profits from the sun." This is guided by the principle of "Do it right the first time," minimizing rework and maximizing system lifetime.

Looking ahead, as African nations formalize and escalate investments in renewable energy infrastructure under initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the demand for sustainable, transparent, and localized supply chains will intensify. Grace Solar, with its established roots in providing "the most trustworthy products and service" and creating "the best stage for hard workers to achieve glorious goals," is committed to long-term partnership. The company continues to collaborate with African developers, EPCs, and investors to build a more resilient, efficient, and intelligent PV energy ecosystem. This partnership is dedicated to injecting durable, positive momentum into the energy transition of the "Sunshine Continent," ensuring it captures the full socio-economic benefits of its abundant solar resources.