Leadership Summit recently held "2012 PV industry special Africa, more than 20 African Embassy officials copolymerized with Suntech, Yingli and other representatives of the Chinese PV companies to explore the opportunities and challenges of investing in Africa photovoltaic market. At this point, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce is also the development of policies to promote the Chinese photovoltaic enterprises to non-assistance to the development of the African market. Explore the African market in the U.S. and European markets closed the door to the occasion, perhaps a new way of China's photovoltaic industry.

Africa has abundant solar energy resources, especially in the Sahara Desert near close to the equator, all year sufficient light, is recognized worldwide as the Earth sunshine areas. Studies have shown that a number of African countries, including Ethiopia, Africa solar year 325 days acceptable sunlight average solar panel day coverage up to the Ethiopian Embassy Minister Counsellor Ke Bude completed yeni said: 6 kilowatts / hour per square meter. "Needless to say, the African Development photovoltaic resources has a unique advantage.

In addition, the energy infrastructure in African countries is weak, the booming economy, the growing national demand for electricity, which also provides a good opportunity for the development of renewable energy. With the social stability of the African region as well as the attention of the Government on the development of renewable energy, renewable energy industry usher in rapid development.

In a few years, African governments have introduced the development of solar and other new energy plans and policies. South Africa took the lead, have been carried out for the 128,000 residents to install solar water heater project, and plans to build 5,000 megawatts of solar cell photovoltaic power plants. Solar photovoltaic power plant in the eastern city of Oujda, Morocco, and is ready to build five solar photovoltaic power plant in Ouarzazate five major cities, with a total area will reach 10,000 ha.

Moroccan Ambassador to Jafar Al heat Hakim, according to the government plan, by 2020, solar power generation capacity will reach 2,000 MW. Algeria has also launched a sustainable energy development plan, has invested 300 million euros to build solar panel plant jointly with the German Centrotherm. Rwanda and Kenya, the country's electricity supply is not enough, the urgent need to resort to the clean energy to make up for the lack of thermal power.

According to statistics, as of the end of 2011, the Chinese photovoltaic products exports amounted to 35.821 billion U.S. dollars, of which only 0.82% of the share of exports to the African continent, far below the 56.94% proportion in Europe. Africa as an emerging market, the conditions of the development of photovoltaic industry has a favorable climate and geography. Zhu Ping, chief strategy officer of LDK said: "The analysis of all aspects of the situation, in the future, Africa should be a big cake, the potential is huge."

According to the International Exchange and Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Commerce, First Secretary Zhu Zhenghong said: "My Government is committed one hundred economic energy projects funded by the African countries, which include the photovoltaic industry projects to help Chinese enterprises to go through foreign aid went along we are an important content of the foreign aid work. "

Seemingly vast African market and business environment, compared to the mature markets of Europe and the United States the transaction controlled environment, the emerging markets of Africa has its own characteristics. Relative to mature market rules established only in its range of activities in terms of the African market threshold is low, the demand is huge, rich human resources and related businesses do not, and will not appear anti-dumping issues are the unique advantages of Africa. However, the new industrial development in Africa, while also facing a lot of challenges.

First of all, this is an emerging market, it takes time to understand the market and local consumers. CEO of the African energy company Total said: "First you must start from their own staff, to train them how to adapt to the market, and how to adapt to this environment, as well as emerging technologies. Meanwhile, consumers also need the same kind of training and support to make consumer this understanding, they agree that the renewable energy market. "

Secondly, the stability and security of the African country's political situation is also likely to face the risk of non-investment projects. PV solar charge controller market need to be highly dependent on the government policy, the biggest feature of the African countries dependent on external assistance. The nature of the investment of such aid actually instability. External support of the countries of Africa will change as the situation in the country's political situation, economic conditions and other factors, such uncertainty investment enterprises, is another layer of worry about. "Insiders pointed out.

In addition, you should also take into account how to solve the problem of power generation Internet. Weak grid infrastructure in most African countries, the population density is less, if you want long-distance transmission of electricity through the construction of large-scale photovoltaic power plants, and the cost is higher. Enterprises to invest in Africa, photovoltaic power plants, it is essential to fully consider the cost of building the grid.