On March 6th, 2026, the ATARRI project and the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence hosted an insightful webinar addressing the critical impact of extreme weather on photovoltaic (PV) infrastructure. The session, titled “Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Mapping for PV Systems,” brought together 18 participants from across industry and academia to discuss strategies for safeguarding solar assets designed for 30+ year lifespans. Our guest speaker, Dr. Leonardo Micheli, Associate Professor at Sapienza University of Rome, shared cutting-edge research on adapting PV design to a changing climate. The discussion centered on a comprehensive risk hierarchy, assessing vulnerability from individual components up to full structural integrity.
Through specific case studies, the webinar quantified how dust storms and extreme wind events degrade system performance over time, highlighting that these localized weather risks can scale up to threaten regional grid reliability and national energy security. Additionally, Dr. Micheli addressed the technical hurdles of risk mapping, specifically the challenges in translating “return levels” into actionable performance indicators for investors. This session underscored the vital importance of climate-resilient engineering in ensuring the long-term viability of renewable energy global infrastructure.