BEIJING, 21st April, 2025 (WAM) -- Chinese scientists have developed a new forecasting tool called iDust that enhances predictions of dust storms, offering significant benefits for solar energy production.
According to China’s People's Daily Online, the tool addresses a critical challenge for renewable energy, particularly in desert regions where dust can drastically reduce solar panel efficiency.
The research, led by scientists at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was published in the Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems.
"Dust storms not only block sunlight but also accumulate on solar panels, reducing their power output," said Chen Xi, a researcher at the IAP.
As China expands solar energy projects in dry, sandy areas, accurate dust storm forecasting has become crucial for minimising disruptions and financial losses. Existing prediction models, such as those from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), face limitations in terms of resolution and speed.
The iDust system overcomes these challenges by integrating dust processes directly into the dynamical core, providing higher-resolution forecasts while using only slightly more computing power than standard weather models.
The system can generate 10-day dust forecasts in just six hours after collecting observations, a significant improvement over ECMWF models, which take longer and provide less detailed predictions.