Vulnerability of solar energy infrastructure and output to extreme events : climate change implications

This paper explores the potential vulnerability of solar energy systems to future extreme event risks as a consequence of climate change. We describe the three main technologies likely to be used to harness sunlight—thermal heating, photovoltaic (PV), and concentrating solar power (CSP)—and identify critical extreme event vulnerabilities for each one. We then compare these vulnerabilities with assessments of future changes in extreme event risk levels. We do not identify any vulnerabilities sever enough to halt development of any technology, although we do find a potential value in exploring options for making PV cells more heat resilient, and for improving the design of cooling systems for CSP.