Africa is on track to install a record 17 GW of solar capacity in 2026, representing a 45% YoY increase and marking the 3rd year of record solar installations on the continent, according to an analysis by energy think tank Ember. South Africa, which previously accounted for more than half of Africa's solar imports, is expected to represent less than one-fifth of total installations in 2026, highlighting the increasing geographic spread of solar deployment across the continent.