China’s renewableenergy engagement in Africa and the lessons it offers

By Staff writer

China’s expanding role in advancing renewable energy across Africa presents a compelling model for how a major power can support sustainable development through strategic investment, technical collaboration, and infrastructure integration. Over recent years, China’s state-backed financing, industrial capacity, and comprehensive project delivery have contributed to a diverse and growing portfolio of clean-energy installations—from large-scale solar and wind farms to hydropower and off-grid microgrids—helping to reshape Africa’s energy landscape.

One of the most emblematic projects is Kenya’s Garissa Solar Power Plant, a 55-megawatt installation financed by the Export-Import Bank of China and built by a Chinese construction firm in northeastern Kenya. Commissioned in 2018, it has become the largest grid-connected solar plant in East and Central Africa. The plant generates around 30 million kilowatt-hours per month, supplying clean electricity to approximately 2 percent of Kenya’s national grid—equivalent to powering more than 70,000 homes and displacing some 43,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. The availability of reliable solar power has reduced dependency on expensive diesel generators for households and businesses, boosting economic activity such as local food stalls and welding workshops.

Another significant focus has been wind energy. In South Africa, China’s Longyuan Power developed the De Aar Wind Farm, which boasts a capacity of nearly 245 megawatts across 163 turbines. Operational since 2017, the facility contributes roughly 760 gigawatt-hours annually, offsetting more than 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ and supporting regional economic empowerment initiatives. Similarly, China-backed wind projects in Ethiopia and other East African countries are increasingly tapping into the continent’s immense wind resources, further diversifying the energy mix.

Hydropower has also been a pillar of China’s renewable engagement. The Soubré Hydroelectric Power Station in Côte d’Ivoire, funded predominantly by China’s Export-Import Bank and built by Sinohydro, came online in 2017 with a capacity of 275 megawatts. That plant accounts for an estimated 10 percent of the national generation capacity and has connected dozens of rural communities to reliable power. In Uganda, the Chinese-financed KarumaHydropower Plant is set to deliver 600 megawatts, reinforcing both domestic energy capacity and regional grid integration. Additionally, smaller hydropower efforts, such as the 19-megawatt Liouesso plant in the Republic of Congo, built by a Chinese firm, demonstrate China’s reach beyond major markets.

China-backed solar power extends to West Africa as well. Ghana’s 20-megawatt BXC Solar Power Station, developed by Beijing Xiaocheng, has been feeding renewable power into the national grid since 2016. Burkina Faso is advancing a 25-megawatt DonsinSolar Plant, supported by a €45.7 million concessional loan from China, with a planned attached battery storage system. These projects highlight China’s growing influence in Africa’s renewable development beyond its traditional partnerships.

The proliferation of off-grid and microgrid initiatives—spearheaded in part by Chinese companies and development partnerships—taps into Internet of Things and distributed energy technologies to electrify remote communities. Programs such as the “Africa Solar Belt” initiative demonstrate China’s commitment to deliver solar home systems to tens of thousands of off-grid households, enhancing rural living conditions and educational opportunities.

The scale of China’s engagement is striking. Since the early 2000s, it has invested over US$13 billion in African clean-energy projects and financed more than 10 gigawatts of capacity. Its investments have averaged annual growth rates of roughly 26 percent from 2010 to 2020, spanning solar, wind, and hydropower technologies. Beyond financing, Chinese firms frequently manage the full lifecycle of projects—from design and procurement through construction and operations—while also delivering significant technical training and workforce development to local personnel.

Crucially, China leverages its dominance in global supply chains for solar panels and wind turbines to deliver cost-effective systems in Africa. Chinese manufacturing capacity produces the bulk of global solar-cell and module supply, giving developing countries access to affordable technology. China’s broader strategic pivot includes green-technology exports—solar panels, electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries—to Africa, aligning with continental ambitions and shifting away from coal and fuel-intensive infrastructure.