Rising Risk of Solar Droughts Threatens Renewable Energy Reliability
As solar energy use surges across the globe especially in developing regions aiming for carbon neutrality a new study warns of a growing threat to its reliability: solar power “droughts.”
Researchers from a recent study led by Lei et al. have identified periods of at least three consecutive days where solar power demand exceeds supply events they call solar power droughts. These shortages could leave millions without access to essential services like cooling or cooking, particularly in regions most vulnerable to climate extremes.
Analyzing solar energy patterns from 1984 to 2014, the study found that areas such as the western United States, eastern Brazil, Southeast Asia, and large parts of Africa experienced at least five solar power droughts annually. Over those 30 years, the frequ...