In a new weekly update for PV -MagazineSolcast, a DNV company, reports that August 2025 marked one of the most productive months before the European PV this decade, in particular on the western half of the continent.
The majority of Europe enjoyed a strong month for PV production in August, with high-pressure weather patterns that produce dry, fixed conditions and consistent above-average radiation levels. The only exception was adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, where elevated storm activity and the remains of hurricane tempered solar output. According to analysis using the Solcast APIAugust 2025 marked one of the most productive months for the European PV this decade, in particular on the western half of the continent.
High pressure patterns were dominant in Western Europe throughout the month, with the Azores being higher over the North Atlantic Ocean than normal and expanded its influence on the continent. This suppressed cloud formation and made a consistent sunshine possible. Solved data show that radiation in a large part of the region was 10-15% above the August standard, making a remarkable boost in the estimated PV production. The east of Scotland and the southern provinces of Sweden reached 20% above normal, although this was only approximately 4.5 kWh/m2 per day on those high latitudes.
Belgium saw the output at 14% above the long -term average for August, per unit installed capacity, while the Netherlands and Germany registered 11% and 8% profit respectively. Groot -Britain also registered a strong performance, with estimated production 7% above its usual levels in August. France was closer to the average, at 3% above normal.
For many countries in Europe this year, the second strongest August for PV output installed per unit installed capacity for every August since 2014, behind only 2022. With installed solar capacity that is growing, the total production of this month still achieved a new record height. The fixed weather was linked to the persistence of high-pressure systems, which kept Atlantic Storm systems remotely and reduced the cloud cover in Central and Northern Europe.
Solar conditions, on the other hand, were less favorable in the Mediterranean. Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece experienced irradiation mirrors close to or slightly under their long -term averages for August. Solcast estimates that the PV production of Italy was 1% lower than the historical norm, with a similar muted performance on a large part of the Iberian peninsula. The region was repeatedly influenced by low -pressure systems and outbreaks in the summer thunderstorms, which suppressed the radiation and introduced greater daily variability.
Some of the thunderstorm events in parts of Spain and Italy brought huge hailstones, causing a direct threat to PV infrastructure. In the end of the month, after crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the remains of Hurricane yielded an eruption of heavy weather in North -Italia and the surrounding Mediterranean Sea. The corresponding clouds change and rainfall further oppressed the radiation, with the production potential closed in the last days of the month.
Dissolved Produces these figures by following clouds and aerosols with a resolution of 1-2 km worldwide, with the help of satellite data and own Ai/ml -algorithms. This data is used to stimulate radiation models, so Solcast is able to calculate the radiation at high resolution, with a typical distortion of less than 2%, and also cloud-tracking predictions. This data is used by more than 350 companies that manage more than 300 GW of solar assets worldwide.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author, and do not necessarily reflect it by PV -Magazine.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to work with us and reuse part of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Popular content
