Study Finds Coal Pollution Reduces Solar Panel Efficiency Globally
A study conducted by the University of Oxford and University College London has found that pollution from coal-fired power plants significantly reduces the efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations worldwide. Published in the journal Nature Sustainability, the research indicates that aerosols from coal burning reduced global solar electricity output by 5.8% in 2023, equating to a loss of 111 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy. The study assessed over 140,000 solar PV installations using satellite data and atmospheric pollution data, revealing that the proximity of coal and solar capacity exacerbates the loss of solar efficiency, particularly in China. 
