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Accepted Paper:
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology manufacturing in Africa: A window of opportunity or a mirage?
Elvis Avenyo
(University of Johannesburg)
This paper investigates the solar PV manufacturing supply chain, maps Africa’s mineral resources key for the manufacturing of solar PV technology, and trade in related activities in the technology’s value chain.
Paper long abstract:
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is a key clean energy technology and an important source of clean electricity critical for the global green transition. Based on several sources of data on critical minerals and trade, we explore some critical questions about how Africa can leverage its natural resource endowments, trade, and latent productive capabilities for the manufacturing of solar PV technology, and the possible opportunities for regional integration and strategy. We found that African countries have limited opportunities in the manufacturing of solar PV technology. Diversifying into the existing global solar value chain may also be a high road as the market is already concentrated with strong entry barriers and gatekeepers. However, building a regional solar value chain provides an easier route, especially given that there are scattered resources (minerals and productive capabilities) and the region has a natural competitive advantage in solar power generation that could provide a sustainable pathway to meet Africa’s energy deficit. Based on these, we discuss the role of a regionalized solar PV industrial strategy for broad-based development of the continent.