In just five years, Africa’s energy storage landscape has undergone a profound transformation. A growing number of industries, utilities, and homes are turning to batteries for power backup— and the uptake is nothing short of remarkable.
Battery storage deployment in Africa has grown from a modest 31MWh in 2017 to an estimated 1,641MWh by 2024 with projections exceeding 21,000MWh by 2025. This growth reflects rising demand for reliable, clean energy solutions across the continent.
Image: AFSIA Solar
Why is battery uptake accelerating?
This dramatic rise has been fuelled by several converging factors:
- Cost Decline: The price of lithium-ion battery packs has dropped significantly, making energy storage systems more accessible. In 2017, total battery costs hovered around $266/kWh, but by 2024, they had fallen to approximately $115/kWh — a 57% reduction (BloombergNEF).
- Grid Reliability Challenges: Persistent power outages and voltage fluctuations have driven demand for backup and power conditioning solutions. Batteries offer seamless transitions and stable voltage, making them particularly attractive to commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers.
- Surging Solar Installations: Solar PV is booming across Africa, and batteries naturally complement this growth. Storing excess daytime generation enables round-the-clock clean power use, reducing dependence on national grids and diesel.
- New Financing Models: Innovations in financing — including energy-as-a-service, leasing, and pay-as-you-store — are enabling more businesses to adopt storage without heavy upfront capital costs.
- Policy and Regulation Shifts: Countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt are integrating storage into national energy strategies, unlocking investment and deployment at scale.
- Quality Advancements: More durable, efficient, and intelligent battery systems are emerging — with longer lifespans, faster response times, and better thermal management. Advanced battery management systems (BMS) are also improving performance and safety.
Not Just Utility-Scale; Batteries are powering East Africa’s Commercial Energy Future.
While utility-scale battery projects continue to expand rapidly — especially in North and West Africa — the real engine of growth is in commercial and industrial applications. Factories, data centres, agricultural processing plants and many more are installing batteries to manage peak demand, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance operational resilience.
Ariya Finergy is at the forefront of this C&I battery revolution. We provide power stabilisation that ensures uninterrupted seamless power to commercial and industrial clients across East Africa, helping businesses navigate unreliable grid conditions and optimise their energy use. Ariya currently operates the six largest C&I battery storage plants in the region, delivering critical services such as peak shaving, load shifting, voltage conditioning, and seamless backup. Ariya’s solution protects sensitive equipment, reduces reliance on expensive diesel generators, and dramatically increases production uptime. The result? Lower operational costs, increased energy independence, and a stronger bottom line for African businesses.
What’s Next?
Africa is entering a storage-first era. As battery technology matures and economies of scale continue to drive prices down, energy storage is set to become a default component of all new energy systems.
From enabling 24/7 solar to fortifying weak grids, batteries will no longer be optional — they are becoming foundational.
This shift opens up enormous opportunities for manufacturers, agro-processors, data centres, and logistics operators among others across the continent. Businesses that adopt storage early will gain a competitive edge — through energy cost savings, higher uptime, and greater independence from grid instability. At the same time, developers and financiers who understand Africa’s unique power challenges – especially those with established track records of successful projects – can offer tailored battery solutions that stand to lead the next wave of energy innovation. The race is on — and those who invest in storage today will power Africa’s economy tomorrow.
This new wave of energy infrastructure is more than just a technological upgrade; it is a fundamental shift toward a more resilient and predictable future. By creating a buffer against grid failures, these storage solutions provide the stability required for new industries to emerge and for existing ones to scale up their operations. This reliability enables the widespread adoption of digital technologies, supports critical services, and fuels a transition that will create countless jobs and foster unprecedented economic growth. Ultimately, this investment in energy independence is a down payment on a continent-wide transformation—one that promises to unlock untapped potential and build a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.
Building trust is paramount. For us, a successful project is not just about a high-performance installation; it’s about earning the confidence of our clients. By providing a dependable point of contact and responsive after-sales care, we prove our reliability day in and day out. This long-term partnership ensures our clients feel secure and supported, allowing them to focus on what they do best, knowing their solution is in expert hands. We are more than just a provider; we are a partner dedicated to your long-term success.
To see how Ariya is leading this change, explore our past projects or get in contact with us today at +254 700 784330 or info@ariyafinergy.com, we’d love to hear from you!
