Canadian Wildfire Smoke Slashes Solar Output in North America and Europe, costing $1.9 B
A 2023 study found that smoke from Canadian wildfires reduced solar electricity generation across North America and Europe by 6.38 TWh, about 2.8%, leading to an estimated $1.9 billion loss.
A recent Nature paper quantified the effect of 2023 Canadian wildfire smoke on solar power generation in North America and Europe, estimating a 6.38 TWh reduction—about 2.8% of the total output over five months. The researchers attributed the loss to atmospheric particles that absorbed and scattered sunlight, resulting in an economic impact of roughly $1.9 billion and an associated 2.1 megatons of CO2 emissions, though they stress substantial uncertainty.
The study demonstrates that distant wildfires can depress solar output for installations that are not directly threatened by fire. It also notes that other pollutants, such as vehicle and coal-plant emissions, similarly diminish solar efficiency, and that improved forecasting can help grid operators mitigate these drops. Separate from the smoke effect, the U.S. Department of Energy flagged direct fire damage as a risk, citing a July 2026 blaze in southern France that harmed about 100 panels at a Luxel solar farm. DOE guidance recommends creating defensible space and fire-resistant infrastructure around photovoltaic sites to reduce such hazards.
Why it matters
The findings reveal how far-reaching wildfire smoke can undermine renewable energy output and economic returns.
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