Increased Saharan dust events (SDE) significantly reduces photovoltaic power generation across the Mediterranean region, posing substantial risks to renewable energy reliability, according to a new research.
Researchers from the HUN-REN (Hungarian Research Network) Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences and the University of Pannonia have unveiled new research investigating the impact of SDEs on photovoltaic power generation in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece.
Researchers analyzed the effects of SDEs that occurred from 2019 to 2023 on photovoltaic power generation in these five countries.
When dust levels were extremely high, the country with the highest photovoltaic power generation loss was Greece, with an average of 20.1-40.9%, followed by France with 4.4-40.5%, Italy with 13.9-36.8%, Portugal with 10.1-29.3%, and Spain with 16.3-19.8%.
Findings of the study demonstrate that SDEs reduce photovoltaic output by an average of 25-40%, with losses exceeding 50% during extreme events.
The scientists warned that the actual impacts could be more severe than the average estimates they presented in their research.
They stated that actual local impacts often surpass these national averages substantially.
"Specifically, elevated dust conditions led to consistent underestimations (up to -15%) in Portugal and Spain and overestimations (up to +10%) in Italy and Greece," researchers emphasized.
By Cafer Baran Isik
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr