China is increasingly channelling its energy investments in Africa into renewable projects, with solar and wind power now accounting for 59 per cent of its energy projects on the continent, according to a report by UK-based think tank ODI Global.
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The report found one-fifth of China’s overall energy sector and also a fifth of renewable energy investment and construction activity had taken place in Africa, amounting to US$66 billion between 2010 and 2024.
The continent has also become a key market for Chinese solar and wind technology, with exports surging 153 per cent from 2020 to 2024. That growth is being fuelled by Africa’s rising energy demand and China’s dominance in solar panel production, where it manufactures over 80 per cent of the global supply.
The findings align with global trends showing China’s energy investment shifting from fossil fuels to renewables. In 2021, China committed to halting the funding of new coal-fired power plants overseas.
The ODI Global study noted that “African economies represent a smaller, but growing destination for Chinese wind and solar power technology”. This shift is expected to continue given rising demand for electricity generation and untapped renewable energy resources on the continent.
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How China is reshaping its economic ties with Africa
How China is reshaping its economic ties with Africa
Elena Kiryakova, a research fellow in the Global Risks and Resilience programme at ODI Global, said Africa’s adoption of Chinese wind and solar tech was mainly due to its “global competitiveness” and Africa’s “growing energy needs”.