China’s Renewable Energy Drive in Africa Amid U.S. Fossil-Fuel Push

The United States continues to promote expanded oil and gas extraction, encapsulated in the “drill, baby, drill” slogan. In contrast, China’s national policy emphasizes a transition to clean power, described as “walking towards the light.” For many African nations, the choice between these approaches hinges on cost, and the decreasing price of solar generation and battery storage is tilting the balance toward renewables.

South China Morning Post

China is actively financing and constructing renewable infrastructure across the continent. Notable projects include the 1.8-gigawatt Benban Solar Park in Aswan, Egypt, completed in 2019 by state-owned China Energy Engineering Corporation and equipment maker TBEA. In Ethiopia, the Adama I and II wind farms—combined capacity 204 megawatts—were funded by the China Exim Bank and built by HydroChina and the CGCOC Group in 2015, marking the start of a broader push toward the country’s wind potential of up to 1,300 gigawatts. Ethiopia also relies on the 5,150-megawatt Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as part of a strategy to achieve full reliance on green power and to support a future fleet of electric vehicles. Across Africa, solar installations surged 54 percent in 2025, adding roughly 4.5 gigawatts of new photovoltaic capacity.

South China Morning Post

Two major fossil-fuel supply shocks in four years—stemming from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East—have highlighted the vulnerability of energy dependence. According to Sonia Dunlop, chief executive of the Global Solar Council, cheap solar modules and improved battery storage have enabled rapid replacement of fossil fuels with solar power throughout Africa. The ongoing U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran, which the source describes as the largest disruption to oil and gas supplies in history, is expected to further boost renewable installations this year.

South China Morning Post

The cost advantage of Chinese-backed renewables is fostering a “solar revolution” that spreads to new markets, with rooftop and distributed systems delivering electricity directly to households and businesses. Ethiopia’s wind and hydro projects, together with expanding solar capacity, are moving the nation toward a fully green electricity supply and supporting the adoption of electric cars. Across the continent, the shift toward renewables is reshaping energy security, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, and creating new economic opportunities tied to clean-technology deployment.

South China Morning Post

Sonia Dunlop emphasizes that growth in Africa’s solar sector is “spreading to new markets” and that distributed systems are empowering consumers. Chinese state entities, including China Energy Engineering Corporation, TBEA, HydroChina, CGCOC Group, and the China Exim Bank, present their involvement as part of a broader national strategy to promote green technology worldwide.

South China Morning Post