African nations have sharply increased their imports of solar panels from China, with a 60% surge recorded in the 12 months through June 2025, according to climate think tank Ember. This rise in clean-energy technology imports marks a record high and signals a potential green energy boom on the continent. In Sierra Leone, solar panel imports in the past year have reached 61% of the country's entire electricity generation in 2023. The increased adoption of solar energy is expected to reduce fuel imports, with savings from avoiding diesel potentially repaying solar panel costs within six months in Nigeria and even faster in other African countries. This surge in imports coincides with China's broader export strategy, as Beijing shifts focus away from U.S. markets following tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. China's exports to Africa grew 25% year-over-year to $122 billion in 2025, surpassing full-year 2020 levels. Overproduction of solar panels in China has led to price reductions, enabling African countries to invest more heavily in clean energy solutions amid their growing energy demands.