Wildfire Smoke Can Slash California Solar Power Output by Nearly a Third
Study finds production plunged 10%-30% in smoky stretch of 2020.
Wildfire smoke covers downtown San Francisco and the Bay Bridge on Sept. 9, 2020, known locally as the “Day of the Orange Sky.”
Photographer: Brittany Hosea-Small/AFP/Getty Images
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The wildfire smoke that’s often seen blanketing California skies is more than just a problem for breathing — it can also drastically slash electricity generated by solar panels in a state that’s been struggling to meet all its power needs.
A new study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research shows that smoke can cut solar power production by nearly a third.