Countries around the world are accelerating investment in domestic solar panel production capacity to strengthen energy security and industrial resilience, and South Africa is part of that broader shift, with new local manufacturing capacity contributing to a more diversified and reliable solar supply ecosystem, says South African solar panel manufacturer Ener-G-Africa.

The Africa Solar Industry Association 'Africa Solar Outlook 2026' report found that Africa is the fastest-growing solar market globally. As the market matures, there is a growing need for consistency, quality, accountability and service.

“We believe local manufacturing has a critical role to play in meeting these expectations. We have a vision for Africa's maturing market. We are entering the next phase of our journey and remain committed to resilient, locally based production,” says Ener-G-Africa CEO André Moolman.

The report shows that solar adoption across Africa has been consistently under-reported, particularly in distributed and commercial systems, with installer-led deployment driving much of the real growth.

Additionally, while competitive pricing remains important, the priorities of installers now include supply certainty, quality assurance and reliable after-sales support.

“Against this backdrop, Ener-G-Africa positions itself as a local manufacturer built for long-term participation in the solar ecosystem. Our Paarl facility is designed to offer manufacturing flexibility across multiple panel sizes and applications, backed by internationally accredited production standards and local technical support,” he says.

Further, the report shows a clear shift towards integrated solar and battery solutions, as customers increasingly prioritise reliability and energy security, particularly in markets with constrained grid performance.

Ener-G-Africa aims to be a solutions-oriented manufacturer within the broader solar industry value chain, and not only serve as a panel assembler, Moolman says.

Specifically, recent international shifts, including changes in export incentives, are expected to affect global pricing structures. This is likely to reinforce the growing relevance of resilient, locally based manufacturing partners who can offer stability over the long term.

“Ener-G-Africa manufactures panels for residential, commercial and agricultural use, but does not operate in the utility-scale segment. This allows us to remain focused on the installer market, where responsiveness, proximity and service are critical,” says Moolman.

“We have invested in infrastructure, our people and processes to achieve this,” he adds.

Ener-G-Africa's solar panel assembly line, at its Paarl facility, in the Western Cape, has a manufacturing capacity of about 150 MW.