China has introduced a new “solar drought” index to more accurately assess regional energy conditions and provide a novel metric for evaluating energy security under the country’s carbon neutrality goals, according to the China Meteorological Administration.
Source: CCTV.com
China has introduced a new “solar drought” index to more accurately assess regional energy conditions and provide a novel metric for evaluating energy security under the country’s carbon neutrality goals, according to the China Meteorological Administration.
Developed by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, the index captures both the supply and demand dynamics of solar energy. On the supply side, it reflects available solar radiation, which can be influenced by cloud cover, air pollution, and temperature. On the demand side, it accounts for local electricity consumption, which is closely tied to economic activity and weather patterns. A “solar drought” occurs when solar energy supply cannot meet demand.
Eastern China is particularly vulnerable, with solar droughts occurring three to five times per year on average. According to Wang Zhili, Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Composition and Environmental Meteorology, global warming driven by greenhouse gas emissions is intensifying demand for cooling, leading to more frequent solar droughts. At the regional level, increased emissions of anthropogenic aerosols are also reducing solar resource availability.
To forecast long-term trends, the team conducted simulations of solar drought scenarios over the course of the 21st century. The results indicate that carbon neutrality policies could significantly reduce the frequency and severity of solar droughts by the end of the century.
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