Contrary to popular belief, extreme heat does not boost solar panel efficiency. Experts point out that during hot days, photovoltaic output drops noticeably, with peak generation occurring in spring and autumn. Despite this, Poland is not facing a repeat of the energy crisis from 11 years ago, thanks to the widespread presence of photovoltaics.
The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) forecasts a wave of extreme heat that will intensify from Wednesday onward. From Thursday to Saturday, temperatures in major cities may exceed 40 degrees Celsius, locally reaching up to 43 degrees. On Sunday, the heat will cover almost the entire country, with thermometers showing over 30 degrees in most regions.
These soaring temperatures pose a challenge for the power system. The summer of 2015 remains a cautionary tale: a heatwave caused power plants to struggle with cooling, leading to the introduction of the 20th supply level for industrial consumers. Factories faced usage restrictions, offices lacked air conditioning, and escalators in shopping centres stopped working. Polskie Sieci Energetyczne (PSE) even appealed to the public to avoid using dishwashers or washing machines between 11:00 and 15:00.
Photovoltaics as a buffer against blackouts
This time, the situation is different. – A repeat of 2015 is not threatening us due to the widespread presence of photovoltaics, which produces a large amount of energy at least until dusk. The issue remains the flexibility of using coal-fired units in the late afternoon and evening. Then the quality of photovoltaics drops and the situation may become tense locally, but we do not foresee a major shock – said Grzegorz Onichimowski, president of PSE.
The role of solar panels in stabilising the grid is increasingly important, even though their performance suffers in extreme heat. Bartłomiej Derski from WysokieNapiecie.pl explained: – Photovoltaics relieves coal power plants, although panels lose some efficiency during heatwaves. Photovoltaics often does not peak in the middle of summer, but in late spring and early autumn. The highest productivity is in the Alps, where it is cool and sunny.
He added that this does not mean solar panels stop working. – Photovoltaics stabilises the system in Poland, and the demand for power is enormous – he emphasised.
What the coming days will bring
The coming heatwave will test the resilience of the entire energy infrastructure. Despite the temporary drop in photovoltaic efficiency, the combination of solar generation and the current energy mix allows for relatively safe management of peak loads. The risk of a systemic blackout is limited, although network operators will monitor the situation closely, especially during evening hours when solar output fades and coal units must ramp up quickly.
For individual users, the advice remains practical: shift heavy electricity consumption to early morning or late evening, when the grid is less stressed and solar generation can still cover part of the demand. With temperatures set to break records, awareness of how heat affects renewable sources is more relevant than ever.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock
