China's role in Africa’s renewable energy transition

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OPINION

By Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi

As the leading global player in green/clean energy, China has played a pivotal role in Africa’s green energy transition through its investments in exploring solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal energy, and nuclear projects at their early stages on the continent.

Through FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation), China has addressed Africa’s pressing need for sustainable, accessible and reliable energy while at the same time aligning with both the global climate goals as well as its own strategic shift towards green energy development. Across sub-Saharan Africa, China has reshaped the energy infrastructure, installing over 23 gigawatts of electricity capacity in 27 countries.

More than 55% of the African population is rural-dwelling. The future of impactful renewable energy solutions for rural Africa lies in investments in solar energy, which China has championed. In projects like the Garissa Solar Power Plant in Kenya, China has exhibited its understanding of Africa’s energy challenges by decentralising solutions to address rural-specific energy poverty. It has installed large-scale grid-connected projects with a capacity of 54.6 megawatts (MW), making the Garissa plant the largest grid-connected solar facility in East and Central Africa.

The $136 million project was built by China Jiangxi International Kenya with funding support from the Export-Import Bank of China (CHEXIM). It now serves over 70,000 households and spans 85 hectares. Since November 2018, when it was installed, this project has drastically reduced energy costs while also enhancing electricity access in rural Kenya.

While the people of the Central African Republic combine efforts to locally combat climate change, they are joined by a Chinese firm that constructed the Sakai Photovoltaic Power Station to provide clean energy to the Gambella National Regional State. In Namibia, a solar firm was built in 2024 with a capacity of 100 MW. The rate of growth of installed clean energy plants across Africa highlights China’s commitment to green energy development.

Countries like São Tomé and Príncipe are the recent beneficiaries of this commitment, with projects such as the ambitious Africa Solar Belt Program, to which the government of China committed 100 million yuan at the 2024 FOCAC meeting.

Over 50,000 households are going to benefit from this project by being connected to low-cost off-grid solar systems. By extending energy to underserved communities, China has exhibited its focus on energy equity while fostering sustainable development.

In 2017, Kenya installed a 310 MW Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, thereby significantly reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. This mega project, built by a Chinese firm, currently stands as Africa’s largest wind farm. And it provides over 15% of Kenya’s electricity.

Similarly, China backed the construction of the Aysha Wind Power Project, which the Ethiopian government expects to expand and be able to generate 2,000 MW of wind power by 2030. To the south of the continent in South Africa, China Energy Investment Group’s subsidiary, Longyuan SA, built the 2.5 billion yuan De Aar Wind Power Project in 2017. This project taps into the Northern Cape’s abundant wind resources to generate energy. What is apparent in these projects is both China’s technical expertise and commitment to diversifying Africa’s renewable energy portfolio.

Sixty-three percent (63%) of China’s energy financing in Africa is in hydropower. Chinese equipment and expertise have stamped a mark on several key projects in different countries. For instance, Ethiopia’s 6,450 MW Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) and Zambia’s 750 MW Kafue Gorge Hydroelectric Station have been built by Chinese firms. The dams are also mostly funded by Chinese capital, with Zambia’s Kafue Gorge built with $2 billion, which Sinohydro Corp received from CHEXIM and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

CHEXIM also provided 85% of the total cost of Nigeria’s Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, which is projected to produce 3,050 MW at full capacity. All these projects employ thousands of Africans and are helping in enhancing local capacity for Africans to manage their energy resources, while also generating the much-needed power to support the continent’s industrial growth.

There are several other hydropower projects on the continent, including: Ghana’s 400 MW Bui Dam, Zimbabwe’s 300 MW Kariba South Expansion, Rwanda’s 43.5 MW Nyabarongo II Hydroelectric Power Station, and Kenya’s 2.5 MW Koru-Soin, to name but a few. Some of these projects play a double role, both as flood control mechanisms and irrigation schemes, thus addressing both energy and agricultural needs.

Africa is also seeing an increasing role played by China in the less ubiquitous yet equally important sector of geothermal energy. Generating geothermal energy is a green energy area with a low carbon footprint. With support from China, Kenya is currently leading Africa in its generation, with an installed capacity of 863 MW. In 2024, the Chinese firm, PowerChina, invested in Kenya’s Menengai Crater Orpower 22 Geothermal Power Plant up to $93 million.

Recently, in July 2025, China had discussions with Rwanda on what could become the continent’s first major investment in nuclear energy. The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced that it was having discussions with the government of Rwanda to explore cooperation on nuclear energy generation. Given Rwanda’s signature efficiency, it is likely that this project will come through.

The writer is a senior research fellow at the Development Watch Centre