Are solar home systems a good investment for Africa?

Solar home systems provide the annual electricity needs of off-grid households for as little as USD 56 per year, less than the average price for poor-quality energy services. IRENA estimates that with the right enabling policies, Africa could be home to more than 70 gigawatts of solar PV capacity by 2030.

Is a competitive cost structure for solar PV achievable in Africa?

Project developers are now targeting sub-USD 2/W cost ranges in East and West Africa. This suggests that with the right regulatory framework and access to finance, competitive cost structures for utility-scale solar PV are achievable throughout Africa.

How much does a solar PV mini-grid cost in Africa?

Stand-alone solar PV mini-grids or solar PV-hybrid mini-grids have installed costs in Africa ranging from USD 1.9 to USD 5.9/W for systems greater than 200 kW. Solar PV mini-grids that came online in 2012 or earlier have higher costs.

Are solar PV systems becoming more common in Africa?

Source: World Bank, 2016. With an expanding market for the installation of solar PV systems in Africa, it naturally can be expected that companies which produce solar PV modules locally will emerge and become more common.

Can solar PV irrigation systems be used in North Africa?

Solar PV irrigation systems have already been used quite extensively in North Africa, especially in Egypt, and can be implemented in many other regions of the continent. The solar PV solution can easily be scaled to address the area to be irrigated (Schumacher Centre, 2010).

Where can PV modules be produced in Africa?

Already, there are several local and international players with African plants for the production and assembling of PV modules (e.g., in Algeria, Mozambique, South Africa, Tunisia and Kenya).21 In addition to the price reduction of the final product as