Africa’s Solar Boom Raises Lead Poisoning Risks

Africa’s rapid solar energy expansion is raising new public health concerns, as experts warn that rising battery use could fuel unsafe lead-acid recycling across the continent, according to an Associated Press report from Kenya’s Owino Uhuru settlement.  

The warning is rooted in a painful example from Mombasa, where residents say they continue to suffer years after a lead-acid battery recycling plant shut down. The plant operated near Owino Uhuru from 2007 until its closure in 2014, but residents say contaminated soil and water left lasting health damage.

The AP report says more than 20 deaths have been linked to the pollution, while Kenya’s Supreme Court awarded about $12 million in damages in 2025 to around 3,000 residents. Activists, however, say compensation has not reached victims quickly enough.

The broader concern is that Africa’s off-grid solar growth depends heavily on batteries. A Centre for Global Development paper says most off-grid solar systems in sub-Saharan Africa use lead-acid batteries, which can create serious environmental and human health risks if disposal and recycling are not safely managed.

Lead exposure is especially dangerous for children. The World Health Organization says young children are particularly vulnerable because lead can cause lasting harm to brain and nervous system development.

Experts say that, lead-acid batteries remain common because they are cheaper than lithium-ion alternatives. But safe recycling requires expensive controls, while informal recyclers often use basic methods that can release lead into air, soil and water.

Some countries are trying to tighten waste management. South Africa has introduced extended producer responsibility rules requiring producers to take greater responsibility for products after consumer use, including waste handling and recycling systems.

For Owino Uhuru residents, the issue is no longer theoretical. Many say they are still living with illness, financial strain and unanswered demands for justice. Their case has become a warning that Africa’s clean energy transition could carry hidden health costs unless battery recycling is made safer and more accountable.