Coal power emissions reduce global solar electricity generation by 5.8%

A study led by the University of Oxford and University College London examined more than 140,000 photovoltaic installations worldwide using satellite and atmospheric data. It found that aerosols from coal‑fired power plants lowered global solar electricity production by 5.8 % in 2023 – a loss of about 111 terawatt‑hours, roughly the output of 18 medium‑sized coal plants.

The effect was strongest in China, the world’s largest solar producer, where aerosol‑related losses reduced solar output by 7.7 % and about 29 % of those losses were directly linked to nearby coal plants. Improvements since 2013 are attributed to stricter emissions standards and ultra‑low‑emission coal‑plant technologies. The lead author, Dr. Rui Song, warned, “We observe a rapid global expansion of renewables, but the effectiveness of this transition is lower than often assumed.”