October 2026 good for PV Production in Europe, but South of France and Ukraine missout
October 2026 saw above-average solar irradiance across much of Europe, boosting PV output, except in southern France and Ukraine due to storms and cloud cover.
Irradiance levels in October 2026 exceeded the monthly average by around 10% across large parts of Europe, driven by extended high-pressure systems that brought clearer skies. Central Europe, the Baltic States, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary recorded the strongest gains, with irradiance up to 25% above average. Despite these gains, shorter daylight hours in northern latitudes limited average daily irradiance to about 1.3 kWh/m² in the Baltic States.
Southern France and the Black Sea region experienced below-average irradiance, with deficits of around 5% and 10% respectively. Repeated low-pressure systems and weather fronts increased cloud cover and rainfall, particularly in Ukraine and Moldova. Storm Adam in mid-October caused intense rainfall and flash flooding across France, Spain, and Corsica, further reducing solar exposure.
Two additional named storms, Austin and Boelo, impacted western Europe in late October. Storm Austin brought wind and rain to southern England and France, while Storm Boelo struck Scotland and Northern Ireland with gusts exceeding 130 km/h. These storms disrupted irradiance conditions and damaged electricity transmission infrastructure, leading to power outages affecting nearly 300,000 customers in France.
The Severe Weather Index, based on Numerical Weather Prediction data, highlighted severe conditions across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom, and the North Sea. Solcast’s high-resolution irradiance models, tracking clouds and aerosols globally, provided data used by over 350 companies managing 350 GW of solar assets worldwide.