Opinion
The latest opinion and analysis from pv magazine.
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Strengthening El Niño to reshape global irradiance for the second half of 2026
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, forecasts that the second half of 2026 will bring above-normal irradiance across much of Europe, Southeast Asia, northern South America and eastern Australia, with the strongest model agreement in Southeast Asia and the greatest uncertainty in North America. Combined with first-half observations, the outlook suggests Europe will finish well above average overall, while regional contrasts persist in the Americas, Australia and Asia.
Jul 10, 2026
‘Never underestimate the impact you can have, whatever your role’
This week, Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Lindsay Dixon, Corporate Partnerships Manager at the UK’s SolarAid. She highlights how solar energy is not only a powerful tool for decarbonisation but also a pathway to inclusion—improving health, education, safety, and livelihoods for underserved communities. Through strong partnerships, women’s empowerment, and locally driven solutions, solar can create lasting social and economic impact.
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The decision points that make or break solar projects
An IEA-PVPS report warns that treating technical and economic solar project decisions separately poses financial risks, advocating instead for cost-effective “quality gates” during early development. Through a structured decision matrix and real-world case studies, the report highlights how proactive planning—such as utilizing mobile testing labs and defensive weather strategies—prevents downstream failures and operational budget strains.
‘Pivot, learn and continue’
This week, Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Tuğçe Gür, Supply Chain Manager at Germany’s RCT Solutions. She says true inclusion means fairness, trust, and opportunity: evaluating people on capability, giving visibility and responsibility, and supporting growth through feedback, learning, and leadership access—not just encouragement.
Blocking, El Niño and extreme events redistribute solar resource in 2026 so far
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that, in the first half of 2026, solar irradiance was broadly above average across Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, South America, and Central Africa, driven by shifting atmospheric patterns transitioning from early-year blocking and polar vortex disruption to developing El Niño conditions. Elsewhere, conditions were more mixed: Canada, Mexico, South Africa, North Africa, parts of Western Russia and Central Asia saw 5–10% deficits, while Asia, Australia, and parts of the Americas experienced strong regional variability influenced by cloud, rainfall, cyclones, dust, and smoke events.
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When the rivers ran warm: how a heatwave thinned France’s nuclear export cushion
UK-based engineering and professional services consulting firm WSP explains how a late-June 2026 heatwave forced France to cut output at river-cooled nuclear reactors as the Rhône, the Garonne and the Seine approached their thermal limits. The afternoon surplus that France exports to its neighbours fell from 11–12 GW to under 3 GW within days, even though the month’s total exports remained normal. The episode shows how rising river temperatures can become a recurring constraint on French nuclear output.
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