In a bold step toward accelerating Africa’s clean energy transition, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) celebrated Global Solar Facility Day with a powerful message: the time to invest in Africa’s solar future is now.
Held under the banner of high-impact collaboration, the event brought together key players such as Africa50, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Prospereté, and global infrastructure leaders—united by a common goal: to fast-track investment into Africa’s solar sector and turn potential into power.
Nigeria Leads as Africa’s Solar Facility Takes Root
Marking a significant leap from concept to action, Nigeria was named the first host of the African Solar Facility (ASF)—a major regional initiative under ISA’s Global Solar Facility umbrella.
With ASF, ISA aims to unlock much-needed capital for Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) projects by deploying catalytic junior equity that de-risks private investments. Backed by Africa50 and NSIA, the Nigerian chapter will serve as a launchpad for scalable, revenue-generating solar projects across the continent.
“This is not just an investment strategy—it’s a shift in how we empower African communities with sustainable, reliable energy,” said an ISA official during the event.
India’s Solar Success Offers a Guiding Light
As part of the knowledge-sharing initiative, delegates visited the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)—a model hailed globally for transforming India’s solar landscape through digital auctions, competitive bidding, and centralized coordination. ISA spotlighted SECI as a blueprint for South-South cooperation, urging African nations to replicate its success to attract private-sector financing and streamline solar deployment.
Innovative Financing: InvITs and Beyond
A key panel discussion explored how Africa can tap into institutional capital through smart financial tools like Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs). Industry leaders including Suresh Goyal (former CEO, NHAI InvIT), Dr. Ram Rakkappan (CPPIB), and Kritika Gupta (OTPP) shared lessons from India’s asset monetisation model and how these can be adapted to Africa’s unique market conditions.
The consensus? African countries must adopt bold, innovative strategies to build bankable projects that attract long-term investors and deliver impact at scale.
Powering the Future—Together
As the sun sets on traditional energy models, Africa stands at the brink of a solar-powered future. With strong international partnerships, bold leadership from African institutions, and smart investment tools, the continent’s energy revolution is no longer a distant dream.
The message from Global Solar Facility Day was clear: Africa is ready to lead, and the world is ready to invest.
