PV-Tech – May 17 California could be at risk of energy shortfalls this summer because of above-normal temperatures impacting solar output, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has warned. The organization, which monitors and assesses the reliability of the nation’s bulk power system, said up to 11 GW of additional transfers are expected to be needed in late afternoon to offset reduced solar output in California this summer, in contrast to 1 GW of transfer needed on a normal peak day. The projections follow a 2020 wildfire season in California that scorched more than 4.2 million acres of land and damaged or destroyed over 10,000 structures. While solar PV’s efficiency drops during extreme temperatures, output was also affected by airborne particles from wildfires blocking out sunlight.