Saharan dust episodes on photovoltaic power generation across Italy

Saharan dust intrusions attenuate surface solar irradiance and pose a challenge to the reliable operation of photovoltaic (PV) power systems. This study examines the impact of major dust intrusion episodes on PV performance in Italy during the first quarter of 2024. Using CAMS clear-sky irradiance as a baseline, the analysis integrates national electricity generation, load data, and installed PV capacity to evaluate deviations from expected solar output. During the most intense events, pronounced reductions in clear-sky irradiance were observed, accompanied by concurrent declines in PV capacity factors and PV market share. These disturbances were reflected in short-term imbalances between electricity supply and demand at the national level. The results indicate that large-scale Saharan dust events can induce coordinated reductions in solar generation, highlighting the importance of accounting for dustrelated atmospheric disturbances in grid resilience assessments and long-term power system planning for electricity systems with high photovoltaic penetration.