As Africa's energy demand continues to grow, solar and other renewable energy solutions are playing an increasingly central role in expanding access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power. However, the ability of these solutions to scale and deliver long-term impact depends not only on installed capacity, but on how efficiently energy is generated, stored, distributed, and used across the entire value chain.

Efficiency is increasingly recognized as a key engine of Africa's solar markets. From solar-powered appliances and productive use technologies to cold chain solutions and energy storage systems, inefficiencies at any point in the energy value chain can increase system costs, reduce performance, and constrain adoption. Conversely, efficient systems enable smaller system sizes, lower capital and operating costs, improved reliability, and better end-user outcomes, making efficiency essential for meeting growing energy demand at scale.

As markets mature, attention is shifting beyond individual technologies toward integrated and efficient energy systems that support productive sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, SMEs, and local industry. This side event, held during Intersolar Africa 2026, will convene industry actors to examine efficiency as a cross-cutting lever across Africa's solar and renewable energy value chains, sharing practical experiences and insights on how efficiency can accelerate market growth, strengthen productive use applications, and support the continent's clean energy transition.