As solar power expands into deserts, tropics, and snowy regions, amidst falling prices, ensuring solar PV system reliability in diverse climates has become crucial. The International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) has published a new report offering practical guidance to developers and planners to ensure the long-term success of PV investments.
The new report, titled Optimisation of Photovoltaic Systems for Different Climates 2025, under Task 13 of the IEA PVPS, analyzes climate-induced stressors on PV systems and offers mitigation strategies to enhance their performance and durability.
The availability of cheaper modules in the market has driven the trend of using thinner glass, cheaper encapsulants and backsheets, and reduced frame thickness, all of which can compromise the system’s long-term safety and reliability. This can especially be true in challenging climate conditions.
For the purpose of this report, the IEA PVPS explores optimization strategies for PV investments in 3 categories, namely Cold & Snowy, Hot & Dry, and Hot & Humid regions.
In a Cold & Snowy location, for instance, low temperatures can lead to embrittlement of materials and cracking of encapsulant and solder joints. The authors recommend the use of flexible encapsulants and backsheets as a mitigation measure while choosing the best PV modules for such a climate. This should also be sturdy with thicker glass, special coatings and smart tracking, as the climate will be prone to heavy snow, ice and sandstorms.
Similarly, in a Hot & Dry climate, mechanical stress with snow, dust, ice or wind can lead to glass breakage, frame deformation, and cell cracks. High operating temperatures can result in hot spots or microcracks. For this, the report recommends ensuring optimized ventilation and using PV technology with high-temperature-resistant encapsulants.
In a Hot & Humid region, the major stress factors could be soiling, salt mist, and/or moisture ingress and humidity. For such climates, it recommends using modules with edge sealants, high barrier backsheet, improved lamination techniques, and anti-corrosion coatings as some of the mitigation measures.
“Reinforced front glass, improved frame geometries, micro-crack-resistant interconnections, and advanced encapsulants like POE or silicone enhance durability in harsh conditions. Special coatings for soiling, heat, snow, or corrosion are being explored, but further studies are needed to confirm their longevity and cost-effectiveness,” reads the report.
The report writers recommend that more field data needs to be collected in this space since experience with climate-optimized PV modules is still limited. And lessons learnt need to be shared within the PV community.
The complete report is available for free download on the IEA PVPS’ website.
