Iran War Drives Africa Toward Renewable Energy and China Model

 Foreign Affairs published on 27 July 2026 an article titled "Can Renewables Industrialize Africa? The Iran War Is Driving the Continent Toward Chinese-Backed Green Energy" by Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, a climate think tank in Kenya.

The war on Iran is accelerating a determination among African countries to reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels and to turn toward renewable power.  As a result, African countries are now leaning toward the model advanced by China, in which abundant, low-cost electricity from renewables underpins industrialization and economic growth.

In the meantime, the United States is ceding a role in Africa's clean energy transition to China and risks losing diplomatic influence on the continent.  Washington has not grasped Africa's new energy reality. 

How African Countries Can Get Better Value from Chinese-Supported Power Projects

 Energy for Growth Hub published on 18 May 2026 an article titled "Four Ways African Countries Can Secure Better Outcomes from Chinese-supported Power Projects" by Naa Adjekai Adjei.

Ghana's experience with Chinese-supported power projects demonstrates that it is possible to achieve better results with cost benchmarking, competitive procurement, stronger finance negotiation, and project oversight expertise.

Do China's Digitally Connected Products Pose Security Issues in Africa?

The China-Africa Security Radar published on 17 May 2026 a commentary titled "Chinese Clean Tech Is Raising Alarm Bells in the West--Should Africa Be Worried Too?" 

Western governments are raising concerns about the impact of Chinese-supplied digitally connected electric vehicles and solar power inverters connected to the internet.  They have the potential to harvest large amounts of geospatial and personal data.

The United States and certain European countries are banning some of this Chinese equipment.  China counters that these are excuses to protect less competitive Western products.  These Chinese products are being woven even more deeply into African markets and raise questions about data protection.  

Chinese AI Network Companies Pursue Africa

 NAI 500 posted on 29 April 2026 an article titled "8 China-Africa AI Network Plays for 2026" by Jian Wu.

Huawei launched its upgraded Xinghe Intelligent Network in Cairo, demonstrating how China is exporting secure AI-ready connectivity.  As African governments, banks, and universities digitize, Chinese companies are building lossless, automated networks that are green, secure, and at China's scale and cost curve.

The top Chinese AI infrastructure companies in Africa are China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, ZTE, Inspur Information, JinkoSolar, BYD, and China Communications Construction.

China Promotes Clean Energy in Africa

 East Asia Forum posted on 30 January 2026 an article titled "'Growing by Greening' and the Future of China-Africa Cooperation" by Xunpeng Shi, University of Technology Sydney, and Muyi Yang, Ember, a global energy think tank.

China's energy projects in Africa have shifted from large fossil fuel investments to solar and wind initiatives.  Nevertheless, there are challenges to the development of green energy that must be addr3ssed.  

China's BYD to Open Charging Stations in South Africa

 BusinessTech published on 16 October 2025 an article titled "China's Largest Car Company Unveils Big Plans for South Africa" by Luke Fraser.

China's BYD, he world's largest maker of new energy vehicles, plans to open hundreds of charging stations in South Africa.  It is also looking to expand its solar coverage across the country.  

Africa Holds Renewable Energy Raw Materials But Can't Compete with China's Manufacturing

 The China Global South Project published on 15 October 2025 an article titled "China's Manufacturing Might Keep Africa Tied to Its Solar Supply Chain" by Njenga Hakeenah.  

Africa holds the raw materials needed to produce renewable energy products but lacks the scale and efficiency to compete with China in the manufacture of these products.  Efforts to do so by companies in South Africa and Nigeria failed.  African economies might be able to compete in the assembly of specialized products.  

China's Role in Africa's Energy Development

 The China-Global South Project published in July 2025 a major report titled "Powering Africa: China's Expanding Role in the Continent's Energy Future" by Frangton Chiyemura.

From 2020 to 2024, Chinese financing delivered over 32 gigawatts of power generation capacity to 30 African countries.  At the same time, several projects face delays or dormancy due to technical, financial, or political challenges.  

China-Africa Trade Increases, But So Do African Trade Deficits

 Forbes posted on 23 September 2025 an article titled "Africa-China Trade Increases Amid Global Uncertainty, but a Mutually-Beneficial Mindset Is Needed" by Freddie Hiney.

There has been in 2025 a sharp increase in China-Africa trade.  But most of the increase is due to more Chinese exports to Africa, resulting in even larger African trade deficits.  

China. Africa, and the Environment

 Global Voices posted on 7 September 2025 a commentary titled "How Is Africa Benefiting from China's Global Renewable Push?" by Jean Sovon and Vivian Wu.

China positions itself as a champion for renewable energy in Africa while financing large projects that exploit coal and oil.  The authors ask how African countries can reconcile a partnership aimed at implementing the principles of environmental justice.  

China's Exports to Africa Surge While They Decline to US

 The New York Times published on 8 September 2025 an article titled "China's Exports to Africa Are Soaring as Trade to U.S. Plunges" by Daisuke Wakabayashi and Musinguzi Blanshe.  

China has gained a $60 billion trade surplus with Africa through August of this year.  It has exported $141 billion of goods and services to Africa as of the end of August and imported $81 billion from Africa.  China's exports to the United States have plunged 33 percent while those to Africa increased 26 percent.  As the US dismantles its foreign aid program and pulls back from Africa, China is presenting itself as an economic counterbalance.  

Comment:  The downside for Africa, however, is a long standing and increasing trade deficit with China, which even the elimination of Chinese tariffs cannot seem to reverse.  

Large Increase in African Solar Imports from China

 Ember, a global energy think tank, published on 26 August 2025 a report titled "The First Evidence of a Take-off in Solar in Africa" by Dave Jones.

The report presents Ember's analysis of Africa's imports of solar panels from China.  African imports from China rose 60 percent in the last 12 months to 15,032 MW.  Over the last two years, the imports of solar panels outside of South Africa have nearly tripled from 3,734 MW to 11,248 MW.  Twenty African countries set a new record for the import of solar panels in the 12 months to June 2025.

Ethiopia Signs $1.7 Billion in Investment Deals, Mostly with Chinese Companies

 Reuters published on 14 May 2025 an article titled "Ethiopia Agrees Minerals, Energy Deals Worth $1.7 Billion, Chiefly with Chinese Companies" by Dawit Endeshaw.  

Companies attending a two-day investment conference in Addis Ababa signed agreements valued at $1.7 billion for a variety of mineral, coal, and solar energy deals.  Chinese companies were well represented.  

Solar Power and Environmental Peacebuilding in Somalia

 The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published in February 2025 a policy brief titled "Solar Power and Environmental Peacebuilding in South-Central Somalia" by Ann-Sophie Bohle and Kheira Tarif.  

The policy brief explores how the International Organization for Migration's approach to solar power and the facilitation of local public-private partnerships can support environmental peacebuilding at three levels: the community level, the local business level, and the district council level.  

Future of China's Renewable Energy Projects in Africa

 The Wilson Center's Africa Up Close blog posted on 22 November 2024 a commentary titled "Lights On or Off? Chinese Solar and Wind Companies in Sub-Saharan Africa" by Xiaokang Xue, Brown University.

China;s experience and overcapacity in wind and solar energy should make it a good fit for investing in projects in Africa.  But market hurdles, financing gaps, and shifting investment models create a more complicated picture.  China's new "small yet beautiful" investment model may result in innovative financing methods.

Is Africa Ready for China's Green Energy?

 The South African Institute of International Affairs published in October 2024 a paper titled "Win-Win Green Partnership: China Is Capable, Is Africa Ready?" by Xiang Chen, Alex Benkenstein, and Steven Gruzd.

While China is positioned as a capable green partner, the success of the partnership depends on Africa's capacity to coordinate, finance, and integrate its priorities into the green development agenda.  The authors express concern over Africa's ability to respond.

China, Africa, and Renewable Energy

 South Africa's Standard Bank published on 20 August 2024 a report titled "China's Renewable Energy Interest in Africa" by Jeremy Stevens and Simon Fremantle.  

The report argues that renewable energy could become a more important component in China-Africa relations if it takes into account the development priorities of African countries.

US Seeks to Challenge China's Influence in Angola

 The South China Morning Post published on 9 December 2023 an article titled "US Makes US$2 Billion Commitment to Angola as Oil-rich Nation Eyes Move Beyond Chinese Funding Model."

China has funded most infrastructure projects in Angola this century.  The United States is set to finance $2 billion worth of solar power, bridges, internet network, and the Lobito Corridor Railway Line from Zambia to the Angolan coast via the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The project, which includes European Union participation, is seen as a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative.  

China's Global Energy Finance Database

 The Global Development Policy Center at Boston University published in November 2023 a policy brief titled "Green Horizons? China's Global Energy Finance in 2022" by Cecilia Springer, Ishana Ratan, Yudong Nathan Liu, and Jia Gu.  

From 2000-2022, the China Development Bank and China Export-Import Bank provided 331 loans totaling $225 billion for 65 public borrowers for energy projects around the world.  2022 marked the second year in a row that China's development finance institutions did not issue new loan commitments for the overseas energy sector.

Despite the decline since 2016 in loan commitments and size, the amount of energy finance China provided surpassed the energy sector lending offered to public entities by any other global lender. The largest share of existing loan commitments by China has been to exploration and extraction projects in the energy sector.  

Power generation received the second largest amount of lending commitments across energy subsectors.  In terms of energy source, fossil fuels received the most support with coal, oil, and gas representing 73 percent of the lending.  Oil was the largest energy source by amount of finance, followed by gas and liquefied natural gas.  

China's commitments to stepping up support for green and low-carbon energy have yet to emerge in the form of development finance.  

South Sudan: Renewable Energy for Peace

 The Stimson Center published in February 2023 a report titled "Renewable Energy & the United Nations: A Green Spark for Peace in South Sudan" by Eugene Chen, Flora McCrone, and David Mozersky.

The report looks at electricity access (7 percent of South Sudan's population) in relationship to South Sudan's conflict, which is exacerbated by an oil economy, and the options to harness renewable energy as a tool for peace and development.