Benjamin Clarke is set to become the CEO of AFSIA on December 1, 2026
Clarke previously led the global markets vertical at the European solar and storage association, SolarPower Europe
The leadership transition will be presented at REFA 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, in November
Benjamin Clarke has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), effective December 1, 2026. He will succeed John van Zuylen, who led the association for more than seven years.
Clarke currently serves as AFSIA’s Director of Operations, a position he took up in February 2026. Before joining the association, he served as the head of global markets at the European solar PV and storage industry association SolarPower Europe. He worked with SolarPower Europe for over four years, gaining experience in international solar markets.
The leadership transition is expected to be formally presented at the Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) 2026, scheduled for November 25–26 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, AFSIA is a regional industry association that promotes solar energy development across Africa. Its activities cover utility-scale solar projects, commercial and residential installations, off-grid solar systems, hybrid energy solutions, and solar-powered applications.
Distributed solar, particularly in the C&I and residential segments, is driving Africa’s solar growth. Earlier this year, AFSIA estimated the continent’s installed solar capacity at 63.9 GW, based on Chinese export data, significantly above previous industry estimates. Much of the previously unaccounted-for capacity is believed to be in these segments, pointing to a more mature and diversified market (see AFSIA: Africa’s Solar PV Capacity Far Higher Than Estimates).
According to Ember, Africa is on track for its third consecutive record year of solar installations. It forecasts the continent to install 17 GW of solar capacity in 2026, up 45% from last year (see Africa Solar Installations Set To Hit Record 17 GW In 2026).
