China's prowess in solar aids Africa's green transition

Kenya pioneers efforts

The Chinese-constructed 50-megawatt Garissa solar power station in northeastern Kenya is the largest PV power project in East Africa. Since it began operations in 2019, the solar power plant has generated over 76 million kilowatt-hours annually, meeting the electricity needs of 70,000 households and more than 380,000 people.

Built by the China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation in conjunction with Kenya's Rural Energy Authority, the project has not only freed local residents from frequent power outages but also promoted local industrial and commercial development, creating numerous job opportunities, said the company.

It has also made Kenya one of the biggest investors in renewable and clean energy as it is home to the largest grid-connected solar power plant in East and Central Africa.

As it strives for renewable energy development, the station has helped Kenya save about 24,470 metric tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 64,000 tons annually.

Chinese photovoltaic companies can provide high-quality and competitively priced PV products in Africa, said Wang Jifeng, deputy general manager of JinkoSolar in the Middle East and Africa. They have advantages through excellent technology and product strength and are also a leading global presence, Wang said.

Chinese solar companies, in addition, have established comprehensive marketing systems, excellent local teams, and efficient after-sales services over the years. These efforts have enabled them to meet the growing energy demands and diverse application scenarios in the African market, he said.

Since 2021, Longi Green Energy Technology, for example, has directly supplied over 1 gigawatt of PV modules to more than 30 African countries. These modules are used across various sectors including national power grids, industry, commerce, agriculture, hospitals, schools, and public utilities.

In addition to exporting PV modules, Longi has also been stepping up collaboration with educational institutions to provide training in new energy.

The International Energy Agency forecasts that solar photovoltaic energy will comprise 47 percent of the technology's mix for mini-grids and off-the-grid systems power generation in sub-Saharan Africa by 2040, an indication that Kenya is on the right track.