Egypt to add 2 GW of solar capacity in 2026

Egypt is expected to add around 2 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in 2026, up 176 per cent year on year, making it Africa’s second-largest market for new solar capacity, according to the Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC).

The figures come from an IDSC review of a report by Ember and the African Tech Futures Lab (ATFL), which expects Africa to add around 17 GW of solar capacity this year, up 45 per cent annually.

South Africa is projected to lead with 3.3 GW, followed by Egypt at 2 GW, while Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are each expected to add 1.7 GW.

The report said China supplied around 94 per cent of solar panels installed in Africa, with exports to the continent reaching about 23 GW in the 12 months to June 2026. Only 6 per cent of panels were locally manufactured.

New factories in Egypt and Tanzania are expected to help raise Africa’s solar panel production capacity to around 3.5 GW in 2026, nearly four times 2025 levels. Egypt is expanding manufacturing to include solar cells and panels, with plans for related components such as glass and frames.

Around three-quarters of Africa’s solar additions between 2023 and 2025 came from distributed systems, including rooftop installations. Ember estimated Africa added 12 GW in 2025, compared with 6.2 GW estimated by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and 4.6 GW by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The report said the rapid expansion presents an opportunity for Egypt and other African countries to strengthen local manufacturing, reduce import dependence and boost clean energy exports.