Towards heat-resilient photovoltaics: Experimental evidence of performance losses in the far North Region of Cameroon

The Far North region of Cameroon, presents extreme thermal challenges for photovoltaics (PV), with ambient temperatures frequently exceeding 45°C. This study experimentally quantifies PV performance losses under real-world Sudano-Sahelian conditions in Maroua. Hourly monitoring over 12 months revealed critical thermal stress: PV modules operated 91% of the time above 25°C, peaking at 67°C. Despite high solar irradiance, close to 1000 W/m², this caused significant power degradation. Results show a power loss of approximately 9.5 W per module, 19% of rated power, corresponding to a thermal degradation rate of 0.46% per °C. These findings underscore the severe impact of heat on PV yield in Sudano-Sahelian climates and provide critical experimental evidence supporting the urgent need for advanced heat-resilient PV designs and cooling strategies to enhance energy production in such demanding environments.