Brussels — May 16, 2025
As Europe leans more heavily on solar power to meet climate and energy security goals, a growing atmospheric threat from the Sahara Desert is undermining the stability and efficiency of this renewable energy source.
New research presented at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU25) highlights the negative impact of Saharan dust on photovoltaic (PV) systems across several European regions. The dust, carried by winds from North Africa, reduces solar irradiance, lowers energy yields, and complicates generation forecasts.
Led by Dr. György Varga and a team of Hungarian and European scientists, the study reveals how mineral dust from the Sahara absorbs and scatters sunlight, thereby decreasing the efficiency of solar panels. Between 2019 and 2023, the team analyzed 46 Saharan dust events across Central and Southern Europe, including Hungary, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and Greece.
Each year, billions of tons of fine dust are released from the Sahara, with tens of millions of tons reaching European skies — hampering solar energy capture.
Dual Threat: Performance and Predictability
The dust not only reduces the immediate efficiency of solar panels but also obstructs accurate energy forecasting. According to Dr. Varga, traditional prediction models — which rely on static aerosol climatology — are inadequate for tracking the dynamic and episodic nature of dust storms.
The lack of real-time dust data integration impairs both energy planning and grid management. Researchers recommend the adoption of dynamic forecasting systems that include real-time aerosol loading and cloud coupling to improve forecast accuracy and scheduling of solar energy production.
“We must adopt meteorologically and mineralogically informed forecasting tools. Without this, increasing reliance on solar power could lead to inefficiencies and grid instability,” said Dr. Varga.
Long-Term Impact on Photovoltaic Infrastructure
The study also underscores the long-term consequences of dust accumulation on solar infrastructure. Dust not only blocks sunlight but physically contaminates and erodes panel surfaces, decreasing overall lifespan and increasing operation and maintenance costs.
Frequent cleaning becomes essential — a costly and resource-intensive task that threatens the financial viability of solar energy projects in dust-prone regions.
Strategic Implications for the Energy Transition
The findings are part of broader efforts to enhance Europe’s climate resilience and renewable energy governance, supported by institutions such as the National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
As solar power continues to expand its role in Europe’s energy mix, integrating climate and geophysical factors like Saharan dust into energy planning becomes vital. Addressing these challenges will help ensure grid stability and achieve the continent’s sustainability goals without falling victim to increasingly complex climate phenomena.