Dust in the system -- How Saharan storms threaten Europe's solar power future

North African humid periods over the past 800,000 years

The Sahara region has experienced periodic wet periods over the Quaternary and beyond. These North African Humid Periods (NAHPs) are astronomically paced by precession which controls the intensity of the African monsoon system. However, most climate models cannot reconcile the magnitude of these events and so the driving mechanisms remain poorly constrained. Here, we utilise a recently developed version of the HadCM3B coupled climate model that …

Dust in the system -- How Saharan storms threaten Europe's solar power future

New research reveals how Saharan dust impacts solar energy generation in Europe. Dust from North Africa reduces photovoltaic (PV) power output by scattering sunlight, absorbing irradiance, and promoting cloud formation. The study, based on field data from 46 dust events between 2019 and 2023, highlights the difficulty of predicting PV performance during these events. Conventional forecasting tools often fail, so the team suggests integrating rea…

Sahara dust can significantly reduce the performance of solar systems (photovoltaics). In order to ensure a safe supply, the forecasts must be accurate – but according to researchers, the corresponding models are often beside each other. read more on t3n.de

Aracely GarzaThe Secretariat of Environment of Nuevo León alerted for the Sahara dust season that would begin its entry into the entity at the end of May and would extend until June. The owner of the dependency, Alfonso Martínez Muñoz, indicated that this dust that reaches the entity also comes from the desert of Chihuahua and other desert regions. We even get dust from the desert of Mojave, beyond the United States, then when air currents come …

Environmental News Network - Dust in the System — How Saharan Storms Threaten Europe’s Solar Power Future

As Europe increases its reliance on solar energy to meet climate and energy security targets, a growing atmospheric phenomenon is complicating the path forward: Saharan dust.

Dust in the System — How Saharan Storms Threaten Europe’s Solar Power Future

As Europe increases its reliance on solar energy to meet climate and energy security targets, a growing atmospheric phenomenon is complicating the path forward: Saharan dust.