Pollution from coal plants can reduce solar generation by over 5%

Research from the UK finds aerosols reduced global solar output by 5.8% in 2023, equivalent to 111 TWh. While China accounted for over half the global total in 2023, the country is the only major solar-producing region found to be demonstrating a decline in annual losses.

May 25, 2026

Pollution from coal-fired power plants can significantly limit the energy output from solar installations, particularly in areas where plants are located nearby, according to new research.

A UK-based research team led by the University of Oxford and University College London used satellite data to map over 140,000 solar installations worldwide, combining their dataset with atmospheric data on air pollution to calculate aerosol-induced losses from solar plants.

The team found aerosols reduced global solar electricity output by 5.8% in 2023, equivalent to 111 TWh of lost energy.