As Europe’s reliance on solar energy grows to meet climate and energy security targets, a new challenge has emerged: Saharan dust. This atmospheric phenomenon is reducing photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation across the continent and making it harder to predict.

Researchers at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly (EGU25) presented findings that reveal how mineral dust carried on the wind from North Africa is disrupting PV performance and challenging existing forecasting models. The study, “The Shadow of the Wind: Photovoltaic Power Generation under Europe’s Dusty Skies,” used field data from over 46 Saharan dust events between 2019 and 2023 to explore the impact of dust-laden skies on solar power generation.

The Sahara Desert releases billions of tonnes of fine dust into the atmosphere every year, with tens of millions of tonnes reaching European skies. This dust scatters and absorbs sunlight, reducing irradiance at the surface and promoting cloud formation – all of which degrade PV output. Conventional forecasting tools often miss the mark during these events, leading to underperformance and grid instability.

Dr. György Varga and his team recommend integrating near-real-time dust load data and aerosol-cloud coupling into forecasting models. This would enable more reliable scheduling of solar energy and better preparedness for the variability introduced by atmospheric dust. “There’s a growing need for dynamic forecasting methods that account for both meteorological and mineralogical factors,” Varga says.

Beyond atmospheric effects, Saharan dust also has long-term impacts on the physical infrastructure of solar panels, including contamination and erosion – factors that can further reduce efficiency and increase maintenance costs. This research contributes to ongoing efforts in Hungary and the EU to improve climate resilience and renewable energy management, highlighting the importance of considering both short-term and long-term effects of Saharan dust on Europe’s solar future.

The article discusses a recent study led by University College London researchers that suggests using existing large planes, like the Boeing 777F, to inject particles into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight and cool the planet. This approach, known as stratospheric aerosol injection, is a geoengineering technique that has been previously researched but assumed to require specially designed aircraft flying at high altitudes.

The study found that injecting sulphur dioxide particles at an altitude of 13 km above the polar regions could meaningfully cool the planet, albeit less effectively than at higher altitudes closer to the equator. This approach would require using three times the amount of aerosol and would have increased side effects like acid rain.

However, climate change is a serious problem, and it’s essential to understand all options for policy-makers to make informed decisions. The researchers used simulations in the UK’s Earth System Model 1 (UKESM1) to estimate the impact of stratospheric aerosol injection at different altitudes, latitudes, and seasons.

Injecting 12 million tonnes of sulphur dioxide a year at 13 km would cool the planet by around 0.6°C, which is roughly the same amount added to the atmosphere by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. This strategy is not as effective as injecting particles at higher altitudes but could begin sooner.

The study’s lead author noted that any stratospheric aerosol injection would need to be introduced gradually and reduced gradually to avoid catastrophic impacts from sudden warming or cooling, and would not eliminate the need for emissions reductions. The researchers emphasized that long-term climate stability can only be achieved with net-zero greenhouse gas emission reductions.

The article suggests that ancient Homo sapiens may have had an advantage over Neanderthals due to their use of sunscreen, tailored clothing, and shelter in caves. This allowed them to protect themselves from the increased solar radiation caused by a shift in Earth’s magnetic field, which occurred around 41,000 years ago.

Researchers at the University of Michigan created a 3D model of the space environment during this time period, showing where charged particles were able to slip through Earth’s magnetic field. They found that this event could have had significant effects on human populations, including increased infant mortality and ocular pathologies due to solar radiation exposure.

The study’s authors caution that their findings are correlational and not definitive, but they offer a new perspective on existing data. The researchers also highlight the importance of considering how such events might affect us in the future, particularly with regards to communication and telecommunication systems.

Furthermore, the study suggests that life can exist on planets without strong magnetic fields, which has implications for the search for life beyond Earth. This finding challenges a common assumption that a planet must have a strong magnetic field to support life.

Overall, the article presents a compelling case for how ancient Homo sapiens may have adapted to a changing environment and highlights the importance of studying prehistoric events to better understand our own planet’s history and potential risks in the future.