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Solar Energy in Extreme Climates: Challenges and Solutions

2024-04-03

Extreme climates can be both cold and hot zones with varying humidity levels. Given ongoing climate change and associated temperature increases, we focus here on extremely hot climates. The ongoing and expected further increase in global warming already poses significant challenges for many regions. Annual temperature records are being broken, and for many, this means a complete change in lifestyle. The year 2023 was a record-breaking year, with average temperatures 1.18 degrees Celsius higher than the 20th century average. The consequences included the lowest level of Antarctic sea ice on record in 2023, glacier melting in North America and Europe, with Swiss glaciers alone losing ten percent of their remaining volume in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, regions worldwide have been afflicted by fires, floods, and severe heat, impacting food security and population displacement. Energy production accounts for about 40 percent of annual CO2 emissions, playing a significant role in climate change.

Introduction: The Importance of Solar Energy in Extreme Climates

In extremely hot climates, solar energy plays a crucial role. Sunlight in these zones is particularly direct, intense, and constant. As victims of climate change, these regions rely heavily on energy to, for example, cool indoor spaces. The disadvantage of these regions can be advantageously used by harnessing solar energy, which is highly effective for power generation in extreme climates. It's worth mentioning that solar systems are also viable in polar regions, as they can supply remote areas without central power infrastructure through standalone systems.

Challenges of Solar Energy in Hot Desert Regions

Many associate solar energy primarily with warm regions. There's often talk of constructing large solar farms in deserts to accelerate the energy transition. However, solar panels actually perform better in cold regions than in warm ones.

In deserts, solar farm planners face various challenges. Heat negatively affects the efficiency and lifespan of solar system components. Additionally, deserts are dusty and sandy, requiring constant cleaning of solar panels to maintain their performance. Another critical issue is the corrosion resistance of metal parts. Dry air and sand can lead to corrosion, so metal components need to be especially corrosion-resistant. The resilience of solar systems is severely tested in deserts. Increased water needs for cooling solar power plants and more complex infrastructure and logistics for installing systems in remote areas are further complications. Desert storms also pose significant challenges, necessitating that the systems be adapted to extreme weather conditions.

Case Studies: Successful Solar Projects in Extreme Climates

A successful example of a desert installation is the "Noor" solar complex in the Moroccan desert of Ouarzazate. The facility covers approximately 3,000 hectares and produces enough electricity to supply 1.3 million people. It demonstrates that solar plants can function effectively on a large scale even in extreme climate regions. Besides successful power production, the facility also significantly contributes to reducing CO2 emissions.

Future Perspectives: Research and Development for Resilient Solar Systems

There is consensus that solar energy will continue to play a very important and sustainable role in meeting future energy needs. Enhancing the efficiency of panels and developing more durable and robust materials are key elements of future solar systems. Additionally, flexible modules will allow for deployment on nearly any surface. Rapid developments in battery storage technology are also occurring. Battery storages are becoming increasingly powerful and are being developed specifically for use in extreme climate regions. Excess solar power can thus be stored, optimizing the overall power supply accordingly.

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