RSE has published a new article in the journal Regional Environmental Change entitled “Assessing the impact of climate change on solar energy production in Italy”, written by Riccardo Bonanno and Elena Collino from Sustainable Development and Energy Sources Department.

The study assesses the impact of climate change on solar energy production in Italy up to 2100, showing how, despite a general increase in solar radiation predicted by climate scenarios, rising temperatures will have a substantial impact on the efficiency of photovoltaic panels, resulting in a decrease in photovoltaic production.

Furthermore, the alpine regions will be particularly affected by climate change, as the expected reduction in snow cover and, consequently, in albedo, will lead to a general decrease in available radiation, especially in the most pessimistic emissions scenario in terms of climate change mitigation actions (RCP 8.5).