Renewables
African commercial and industrial solar investments gather pace
Commercial and industrial solar developments are accelerating across Africa, driven by the need for reliable power and reduced diesel dependence.
Key points
- Scatec is advancing a $650 million solar and battery project in Egypt under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
- BluEnergy and Redefine Properties are deploying significant investments in South Africa's commercial solar sector.
- Industrial operators across Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria are increasingly integrating solar and storage solutions.
What happened
Renewable energy developers, industrial operators and property companies are scaling up commercial and industrial solar investments across the African continent. According to GreentechLead reporting, projects ranging from large utility-scale industrial supplies to rooftop installations are expanding as businesses seek to lower electricity costs and limit their reliance on diesel generators.
In Egypt, Norwegian developer Scatec is progressing the Dandara solar and battery storage development to supply Egypt Aluminium. The project involves 1 GW of solar capacity and 200 MWh of battery storage, backed by international financing and a local equity stake from the National Bank of Egypt. Meanwhile, South Africa has seen BluEnergy initiate a R360 million solar facility at the Springs Fresh Produce Market in Ekurhuleni, alongside Redefine Properties investing R106 million in a rooftop installation in Cape Town that utilises municipal electricity wheeling.
Industrial and mining facilities in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria are also adopting distributed solar solutions. CrossBoundary Energy has continued expanding its portfolio across several African markets, including manufacturing installations in Nigeria and mining projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
What comes next
The growth of commercial and industrial solar depends heavily on the successful execution of long-term power purchase agreements, grid integration and electricity-wheeling frameworks. Developers must secure ongoing financing and maintain creditworthy customer relationships to translate announced capacities into operational assets.
Why it matters
For energy investors and policymakers across Africa, the expansion of commercial and industrial solar highlights a practical pathway to improving energy security outside traditional utility grids. With diesel spot prices recorded at 4.525 US dollars per gallon on the US Gulf Coast as of November 2026 by the US EIA, industrial reliance on fossil-fuel backup generation exposes businesses to severe operating cost volatility. Expanding distributed solar and storage capacity helps mitigate these risks, though scaling such investments across the continent requires supportive regulatory frameworks for electricity wheeling and transparent procurement processes.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
12.2% of electricity in Egypt was renewable in 2021Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
