Across the venue, Chinese solar modules, storage batteries and smart energy solutions featured prominently, reflecting the growing engagement of Chinese companies in Africa's fast-expanding renewable energy market.

JOHANNESBURG, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Electric vehicles (EVs), rows of photovoltaic panels and clusters of visitors gathering around battery storage systems filled the exhibition halls as Solar and Storage Live Africa 2026 was held at the Gallagher Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The three-day event, from Wednesday to Friday, attracted more than 650 local and international exhibitors and some 20,000 attendees from over 30 countries and regions, highlighting the accelerating momentum of Africa's new energy transition to a greener and smarter energy system.

"The entry of Chinese new energy companies into South Africa is of huge potential," Zander Fourie, a sales representative at ARB Electrical Wholesalers, a major electrical wholesaler in Southern Africa, told Xinhua, noting that his company is currently experiencing rapid growth through cooperation with Chinese partners.

Across the venue, Chinese solar modules, storage batteries and smart energy solutions featured prominently, reflecting the growing engagement of Chinese companies in Africa's fast-expanding renewable energy market.

Firms including Huawei, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., TCL Solar and Midea Energy showcased a wide range of battery storage systems, photovoltaic components and integrated energy solutions, alongside small and medium-sized Chinese enterprises.

"The African market itself has many unique characteristics, which give us strong confidence in its tremendous potential," said Ye Xiaohan, African regional general manager of LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.

Ye, whose company is participating in the event for the third time, cited Africa's abundant solar irradiation resources, rising electricity demand driven by industrialization and mining activities, and the competitiveness of advanced photovoltaic technologies as key factors supporting the continent's solar energy development.

Beyond solar technologies, EVs from Chinese brands such as BYD and AION drew crowds of visitors eager to explore emerging clean mobility options.

After examining BYD's new EVs, Michael Tearnan, a South African businessman from the power generation and automation sector, told Xinhua that the presence of more Chinese companies and their products at the exhibition is a positive development, bringing fresh opportunities for the local market.

Sharing a similar view, Tumelo Thuhloane, a member of the exhibitor staff at Atess Power Technology, a Shenzhen-based global supplier of solar energy storage and EV charging solutions, said that many Chinese companies are offering solar energy storage systems here, which is very positive for Africa.

"China has opened a lot of opportunities for us Africans, a lot of investments. A lot of Chinese companies come to South Africa, they come with more job opportunities for us," Thuhloane added.■