Africa: Solar challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where heat and dust undermine the efficiency of photovoltaic panels

While solar energy is widely seen as a key solution to chronic electricity shortages in sub-Saharan Africa, a new scientific report warns of massive efficiency losses directly linked to local environmental conditions. Published on February 1 in the journal Discover Sustainability by Tanzanian researchers, the study underscores the urgent need to adapt technologies and industrial standards to the region’s climate realities.

Titled “Photovoltaic system performance in Sub-Saharan Africa under environmental, technical and policy constraints,” the report demonstrates that extreme heat and dust accumulation significantly reduce the output of solar installations.

High ambient temperatures combined with intense solar radiation and humidity accelerate the thermal degradation of modules.

In the field, panel surface temperatures regularly exceed 40°C during the day well above the 25°C at which their power conversion efficiency (PCE) is optimal.

The impact is severe: under extreme conditions, module temperatures can surpass 70°C, causing a sharp drop in open-circuit voltage and increased recombination losses.

For the dominant crystalline silicon technology, these thermal stresses can reduce efficiency by 15–20%.

These losses compromise project viability and are especially detrimental to off-grid systems, where any drop in output worsens energy insecurity.

The second major challenge is the buildup of region-specific dust. Far from being purely mineral, it contains organic matter, hygroscopic particles, and salt deposits that adhere to panels.

Without frequent and appropriate cleaning, this layer blocks solar radiation and further reduces electricity generation, adding both operational and financial burdens.

In light of these findings, the report calls for a revision of industrial standards. It urges manufacturers and installers to design systems specifically built to withstand extreme heat and sub-Saharan dust types and to promote realistic maintenance protocols.

Without such technological and normative adaptation, the potential of the solar energy to address sub-Saharan Africa’s power deficit risks remaining largely untapped, weighed down by avoidable performance losses.