Ethiopia added over a third of Africa's new renewable power
Share of the renewable power capacity Africa added in 2025, by country. IRENA statistics, net additions.
Ethiopia's share of the 11.3 GW of renewable capacity Africa added in 2025, more than any other African country.
Ethiopia's renewable capacity grew 68% in 2025, more than it added in the eight years before (3.3 GW).
Ethiopia passed Egypt (9.3 GW) to hold Africa's second-largest renewable fleet, behind South Africa (16.6 GW).
the numbers
| Share of Africa (%) | Added in 2025 (GW) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia | 36.3 | 4.09 |
| South Africa | 27.3 | 3.08 |
| Egypt | 13.7 | 1.54 |
| Tanzania | 12.5 | 1.41 |
| Morocco | 1.7 | 0.19 |
| rest of Africa | 8.5 | 0.96 |
source notes & method
All values are from the 'Total renewable energy' table (MW, end of year) in IRENA's Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026 (March 2026). 2025 additions are derived as end-2025 minus end-2024 capacity: Ethiopia 10,082 - 5,989 = 4,093 MW; South Africa 16,598 - 13,517 = 3,081; Egypt 9,258 - 7,716 = 1,542; Tanzania 2,880 - 1,470 = 1,410; Morocco 4,851 - 4,659 = 192. Africa 82,371 - 71,091 = 11,280 MW (IRENA's foreword: 'Africa accounted for 11.3 GW' and 'Africa recorded its highest capacity increase in 2025, rising by 15.9%... driven by Ethiopia, South Africa and Egypt'). 'Rest of Africa' is derived as Africa minus the five named countries (962 MW, net of small declines such as Kenya's -14 MW); the next-largest additions were Namibia (149 MW), Senegal (144) and Zambia (135). Shares are derived. Ethiopia's growth from end-2016 to end-2024: 5,989 - 2,649 = 3,340 MW. IRENA marks some country values as estimates; latest-year figures may be revised in later editions.
Published 3 Nov 2026
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