Country snapshot · Central Africa
Cameroon
Solar added each year
Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.
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| Year | MW | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 35.0 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 170.5 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 215.1 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 268.7 | Ember estimate, full year |
1.5% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (268.7 of 17,449.4 MW).1
Who has electricity
Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.
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| Area | Access | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Rural | 42.7% | 2024 |
| Urban | 95.6% | 2024 |
| National | 72.0% | 2024 |
World Bank WDI, 2024.2
How reliable is the grid for business?
Firms experiencing electrical outages (2024 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N4
93.3% (2024 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN5
Export rules: None found
- Regulator
- ARSEL
- Main utility
- ENEO (distribution)
Export rulesNone found. No net metering, net billing or feed-in for embedded generation.5Medium confidenceShow detail
None found. No net-metering/net-billing/FiT for embedded generation identified. ARSEL slide mentions only a generic connection obligation for RE producers
How exports are creditedNone foundShow detail
None found
Size limits and licensingSelf-generation: declaration 100 kW–1 MW; authorisation above 1 MW.6High confidenceShow detail
Autoproduction: declaration 100 kW–1 MW; authorisation >1 MW; small distribution authorisation ≤100 kW; rural hydro ≤5 MW authorisation
Mini-grid rulesNo code yet; Mission 300 commitment to adopt a mini-grid code by end-2026.7High confidenceShow detail
No dedicated code yet; Minigrid Code to be finalised/adopted in 2026 (Mission 300 commitment: by end-2026)
Market access beyond the utilityGeneration liberalised since 2011; new electricity law planned for 2026.7Medium confidenceShow detail
Liberalisation since 2011 under Law 2011/022 (IPP licences for independent generation; sales at HV/MV under licence). Compact: open competitive IPP selection; new Electricity Law planned 2026
Aggregation / VPP rulesNone foundShow detail
None found
“None found” means we could not locate a rule in public sources reviewed to 10 October 2026, not that one cannot exist.
Recent developments
Dated developments, 2024–2026.
- 2025
Mission 300 compact; customs-duty exemption on renewable equipment since 2024 (VAT exemption since 2012).8
The full report
This is a snapshot. The full story is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
The full analysis, with 17 exhibits on the boom, the data gap, the economics and the four building blocks, is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
