Saharan dust clouds cast uncertainty on Europe’s solar power growth

by Erica Marchand

Paris, France (SPX) Apr 10, 2025

As Europe accelerates its transition to solar energy, scientists are raising alarms about a growing natural obstacle: Saharan dust storms. New findings shared at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU25) highlight how dust from North Africa is impeding solar electricity production across Europe and complicating forecasting efforts.

Dr. Gyorgy Varga and his research team, drawing on data from over 46 Saharan dust episodes between 2019 and 2023, presented evidence that airborne mineral particles significantly disrupt photovoltaic (PV) systems in both Central and Southern Europe. Countries affected include Hungary, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece.

Every year, the Sahara emits billions of tonnes of dust, with tens of millions of tonnes drifting into European airspace. This dust scatters and absorbs sunlight, lowers ground-level solar irradiance, and fosters cloud development, all of which diminish solar panel output. Researchers emphasized that current forecasting systems, which rely on fixed aerosol data, are inadequate during dust events.

The team advocates for a shift to dynamic models that incorporate real-time dust concentrations and aerosol-cloud interactions. Such improvements would enhance the precision of solar energy scheduling and bolster grid stability.

“There’s a growing need for dynamic forecasting methods that account for both meteorological and mineralogical factors,” says Varga.

“Without them, the risk of underperformance and grid instability will only grow as solar becomes a larger part of our energy mix.”

The study also warns about long-term impacts of dust on solar hardware, citing issues like surface contamination and abrasion that lead to efficiency losses and elevated maintenance expenses. These insights are part of broader EU and Hungarian initiatives to build climate-resilient and efficient renewable energy systems. The research is backed by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (FK138692), the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the EU-supported National Multidisciplinary Laboratory for Climate Change.

Research Report:The shadow of the wind: photovoltaic power generation under Europe’s dusty skies

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European Geosciences Union

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Saharan dust clouds pose growing risk to solar power stability across Europe

by Erica Marchand

Paris, France (SPX) Apr 10, 2025

As Europe increasingly depends on solar energy to reach climate and energy independence goals, a persistent atmospheric issue is adding uncertainty to the equation: Saharan dust. Research presented at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU25) highlights how windborne mineral dust from North Africa is significantly impacting photovoltaic (PV) energy generation and complicating forecasting models.

Dr. Gyorgy Varga and a team of researchers from Hungarian and other European institutions examined data from over 46 Saharan dust events recorded between 2019 and 2023. Their findings cover both Central Europe, including Hungary, and Southern European nations such as Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. The researchers found that these dust intrusions disrupt the accuracy of conventional PV output forecasts, which often rely on fixed aerosol assumptions and fail to respond dynamically to real-time atmospheric changes.

Each year, the Sahara emits billions of tonnes of fine dust into the air, with tens of millions of tonnes reaching Europe. These particles reduce surface-level solar irradiance by scattering and absorbing sunlight and by increasing cloud formation, thereby lowering PV efficiency. According to the study, current forecasting systems lack the sensitivity to handle these transient events.

To improve predictive reliability, the researchers advocate incorporating real-time dust measurements and aerosol-cloud interaction data into solar forecasting models. “There’s a growing need for dynamic forecasting methods that account for both meteorological and mineralogical factors,” says Varga. “Without them, the risk of underperformance and grid instability will only grow as solar becomes a larger part of our energy mix.”

The study also highlights physical degradation issues caused by dust, such as contamination and surface erosion of solar panels. These effects can diminish long-term efficiency and increase maintenance demands. The research is part of wider European and Hungarian initiatives to enhance climate adaptability and optimize renewable energy systems, with support from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (FK138692), the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the EU-funded National Multidisciplinary Laboratory for Climate Change.

Research Report:The shadow of the wind: photovoltaic power generation under Europe’s dusty skies

Related Links

European Geosciences Union

All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com

Laminated structure boosts interface stability in inverted perovskite solar cells

by Simon Mansfield

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 10, 2025

A research partnership between the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has led to the development of a laminated microstructure interface that significantly enhances the efficiency and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite solar cells are regarded as strong candidates to succeed silicon-based cells across applications like portable devices, grid systems, and aerospace technologies. Their appeal lies in their high efficiency, low production cost, and design flexibility. Among their configurations, inverted perovskite structures offer improved material stability. However, these devices are still limited by performance issues related to defect accumulation at the critical interface between the perovskite layer and the fullerene-based electron transport layer.

Led by Prof. Zhou Yuanyuan from HKUST’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Prof. Cai Songhua of PolyU’s Department of Applied Physics, the team focused on engineering a novel laminated interface. This interface comprises three sequential layers: a molecular passivation layer, a fullerene derivative layer, and a two-dimensional perovskite layer. This tripartite structure significantly reduces defect density and improves energy alignment between layers.

The improved interface results in superior device performance and greater durability under conditions such as prolonged light exposure and high humidity. According to Dr. Guo Pengfei, co-first author and postdoctoral fellow at HKUST, “We introduced the concept of composite materials into the interface design of optoelectronic devices, allowing the synergistic effects of each layer in this new interface to achieve results that are unattainable with traditional interface engineering.”

Prof. Zhou emphasized the importance of understanding material behavior at the micro and atomic levels. “Perovskite is a soft lattice material. We can create microstructural features in this type of material that are difficult to achieve with conventional materials. Our aim is to understand the formation and mechanisms of these microstructures at the nanoscale, or even at the atomic scale, to drive device innovation based on this fundamental understanding.”

Research Report:Synthesis of a lattice-resolved laminate-structured perovskite heterointerface

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Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

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