Africa has immense solar, wind, and geothermal potential but lags in annual capacity additions. Europe’s decarbonisation goals and the Global Gateway investment package can mobilise project pipelines from utility-scale renewables to commercial & industrial (C&I) solar and mini-grids, paired with grid upgrades and storage.
The State of Play
Global additions hit record highs in 2024, yet Africa’s share of new capacity remained small. Momentum is growing: customs data show sharp increases in solar imports, and European institutions are prioritising green corridors and grid interconnections.
What Will Unlock Projects
Bankable PPAs with currency hedges and transparent procurement.
Enabling Regulation for mini-grids and net-metering in C&I.
Local Manufacturing of modules, inverters, and batteries where feasible; otherwise, focus on assembly and balance-of-system.
Grid Investments for flexibility (dispatchable capacity, battery systems, regional trade).
Carbon & Sustainability reporting aligned to EU standards to lower cost of capital.
EU–Africa Partnership Angles
€150bn Global Gateway stream earmarked for Africa supports green projects and transmission corridors.
Just Transition projects in coal-dependent areas; green hydrogen pilots tied to European offtake.
Skills & Jobs via university-industry programmes and utility partnerships.
How EuroAfrica B2B Helps
Curates developers, EPCs, lenders, and offtakers; hosts data rooms and milestone tracking.
Sector Directories for grid, storage, and mini-grid specialists; academy modules on bankability.
Key Takeaways
Pair concessional capital with robust regulation and risk-mitigation to convert Africa’s resource advantage into investable projects that feed Europe’s clean-energy supply chains.
Sources: IRENA Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024; Financial Times solar imports analysis (2025); European Commission Global Gateway Africa – Europe Investment Package.
