Solar import surge creates future recycling opportunity

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Africa imported 16.5 GW of solar components from China in early 2026, more than doubling 2025 imports, according to think tank Ember. While this surge reflects the continent's expanding progress on energy access, it also underscores a need to prepare for recycling the millions of panels now entering Africa.

• Africa's solar deployment is accelerating faster than its recycling infrastructure, raising the risk that millions of panels could eventually become waste unless collection and processing systems are developed early. 

• Solar panels are not the only part of the new energy solutions that need circularity. Batteries and inverters are part of most systems and will also need replacing or potentially recycling.

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