Enhanced Solar PV performance through improved research infrastructure for adapted climate conditions

Project Information

CACTUS

Grant agreement ID: 101132182

DOI

10.3030/101132182

Project closed

EC signature date 11 October 2023

Start date 1 December 2023

End date 30 November 2025

Funded under

• Research infrastructures

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 1 495 937,15

Coordinated by

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CACTUS (Enhanced Solar PV performance through improved research infrastructure for adapted climate conditions)

Reporting period: 2023-12-01 to 2025-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Solar power is emerging as the most economical and scalable energy source, with photovoltaic (PV) technologies expected to supply a major share of global electricity by 2050. However, the long-term performance, reliability and operation and maintenance (O&M) of PV systems are strongly influenced by local climatic conditions. Current research and testing approaches often remain insufficient to assess PV systems under real-life, climate-specific stressors.
European research infrastructures (RIs) have developed advanced PV testing capabilities, but broader climate validation is needed for both current and emerging technologies. At the same time, regions with high solar potential, such as Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), often lack dedicated facilities for long-term PV performance assessment. Addressing these gaps requires coordinated international collaboration.
The CACTUS project responds to this challenge by fostering bi-regional cooperation between Europe and LAC. By connecting world-class RIs, scientific expertise and technological capabilities, CACTUS aimed to develop a sustainable ecosystem for climate-adapted PV research, including climate-specific testing protocols, advanced O&M methodologies and harmonised datasets.
The project’s overall objective was to improve the understanding of PV system behaviour under diverse climatic conditions, enhance PV testing infrastructures, and develop best practices for O&M and life cycle analysis (LCA) adapted to site-specific contexts. Through these actions, CACTUS supports reliable, bankable and sustainable PV deployment, contributing to the EU’s renewable energy and climate objectives.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

CACTUS successfully achieved its objectives by strengthening research infrastructures, coordinating methodologies and enabling knowledge exchange between Europe and Latin America. As a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), the project focused on building frameworks, tools and cooperation mechanisms rather than advancing technologies to higher TRLs.

Key achievements are outlined below:

1. CACTUS developed climate-specific PV testing protocols addressing desert, tropical and alpine conditions. These protocols account for real-world stressors such as heat, humidity, UV exposure and soiling, and provide a structured basis for assessing PV reliability under diverse climates.
2. The project also delivered advanced O&M and predictive maintenance methodologies, including fault detection and diagnosis approaches supported by climate-specific data. These tools contribute to improved system reliability, reduced downtime and enhanced PV plant bankability.
3. A major outcome was the establishment of harmonised datasets combining indoor and outdoor PV performance data from European and LAC sites. These datasets support model calibration, degradation analysis and comparative studies across climates, while promoting data standardisation and sharing.
4. CACTUS further strengthened capacity building and knowledge transfer through training activities, exchanges and workshops, reinforcing expertise in PV testing and O&M across both regions and creating long-term scientific synergies.
5. Finally, the project produced policy-relevant outputs, including a Policy Brief, providing recommendations on climate-specific testing, research infrastructure access and international cooperation to support sustainable PV deployment.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

As a Coordination and Support Action, CACTUS focused on enhancing research infrastructures and coordinating methodologies rather than direct technology development. Nevertheless, the project delivered results that go beyond the current state of the art in several key areas.
CACTUS introduced standardised climate-specific testing frameworks that move beyond conventional laboratory-based approaches, enabling systematic assessment of PV degradation mechanisms under real climatic conditions. This represents a significant advancement over existing testing practices that insufficiently capture environmental variability.
The project also advanced climate-resilient O&M methodologies, integrating predictive maintenance concepts with climate-adapted data. These approaches improve long-term performance assessment and offer new perspectives for reliability-oriented PV operation.
By creating shared, harmonised datasets across continents, CACTUS significantly improved access to climate-specific PV performance data, addressing a long-standing gap for both researchers and industry.
Beyond technical aspects, CACTUS strengthened international collaboration between European and LAC research infrastructures, establishing a durable foundation for joint services, knowledge exchange and future cooperation.
Finally, the project contributed to policy and standardisation discussions, providing evidence and recommendations to support future EU and international frameworks for climate-resilient PV systems.