China is playing a critical role in Africa’s clean energy transition, contributing over 40,533 MW of renewable energy capacity across the continent, according to research shared by Development Reimagined’s Climate Program Manager, Yike Fu, during a high-level webinar hosted by the Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory (ACCPA), in partnership with the Africa Climate Foundation.
“Since the 8th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2021, China has engaged in 155 African climate-related projects, with nearly 66% focusing on renewable energy. Southern Africa has emerged as the top beneficiary, attracting 32.3% of all projects, while Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia stand out as the most frequent national partners,” Yike stated.
The FOCAC 9 Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027) is set to bolster this trend with 30 new clean energy projects and broadening the scope to include large-scale initiatives in solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and green hydrogen. In addition, China has now committed to a dedicated fund aimed at supporting a green industrial chain across the continent.
Despite the momentum, concerns were raised about the continent’s ability to meet the 2030 renewable energy target of 300 GW. According to Yike, achieving this ambitious goal would require Africa to accelerate its renewable energy growth by 23.3% annually significantly higher than China’s historical average of 14.4% per year”, Yike said
Yike Fu stressed that while China could potentially support up to 82% of Africa’s renewable energy goals. Success will require a substantial increase in project delivery speed, enhanced governance frameworks, and stronger bilateral collaboration.
