A combination of high electricity tariffs, falling solar PV prices and a lack of reliability on the grid is spurring sales of on-site solar to business customers in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the conclusion of a new report by research company BloombergNEF (BNEF), commissioned by responsAbility Investments, assessing the potential of commercial and industrial solar opportunities in the region.

the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar sector in sub-Saharan Africa is growing not because of regulatory support – as has been the case in many developed economies – but because of economics. On-site solar power is cheaper than the electricity tariffs paid by commercial or industrial clients in 7 out of 15 markets in sub-Saharan Africa studied by BNEF. Read more: Increased solar power to boost Uganda’s electricity sector