Mediterranean Climate Impact on Photovoltaic Systems: Insights from Malta and Implications for Future European Integration

As the demand for clean energy grows, optimising photovoltaic (PV) systems in climate-specific environments is crucial to achieving energy transition goals. This paper investigates the impact of the Mediterranean climate on PV systems, focusing on insights gained from Malta through the PROMISE project. By leveraging real-time data from five PV living laboratories, the study examines key environmental challenges such as high temperatures, humidity, atmospheric salinity, and soiling, which significantly affect system performance. Seasonal variations in temperature and irradiance are analyzed to assess their impact on PV efficiency and energy yield. These findings are further extrapolated to address broader European challenges in integrating PV systems across diverse climates. The research offers critical recommendations for enhancing PV technology in Mediterranean regions and explores the role of PV installations in urban heat mitigation. The developed data-driven framework provides scalable solutions for improving system resilience and forecasting performance, contributing to future PV integration efforts across Europe.