Extreme weather upends sunshine patterns in major solar markets
Parts of Western Europe and Southeast Asia got more sun than usual this summer while Eastern India and parts of the U.S. Midwest got less.
Extreme heat and rainfall this summer disrupted sunshine patterns in major solar markets, according to a new report. Areas in Western Europe and Southeast Asia experienced notably sunnier conditions from June to August, while Eastern India and parts of the U.S. Midwest had lower-than-average sunshine, Solargis, a data provider for the solar industry, reported.
The analysis highlights how extreme weather makes it challenging to predict solar and wind generation accurately, causing issues for investors and grid operators relying on historical models. Solargis CEO Marcel Suri noted that Summer 2026 demonstrated the extent to which solar resource conditions can deviate from historical averages across major markets.
The wider variations emphasize the need for more precise weather data to manage risks and maintain grid balance. Solar irradiation can be influenced by factors like cloud cover, monsoon rains, smog, and wildfires. In Western Europe, which had its warmest and driest summer on record, southern England and western France received solar irradiance more than 20% above normal.
Malaysia, Indonesia, and the southern Philippines experienced sunshine levels 30% higher than usual. Conversely, southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and Uruguay saw irradiance levels more than 20% below average. Northern Europe faced deficits of up to 25% below normal due to excessive precipitation. Eastern India, heavily impacted by monsoon rains, had irradiation levels as much as 20% below average, whereas western and northern states, where most solar projects are located, had average or better sunshine.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
