Canadian Wildfire Smoke Cut Solar Power Generation by 3% in Europe in 2023

Iulian-Alin Roșu at the Technical University of Crete said the trend is likely to continue, with significant Canadian wildfire events expected annually. Smoke from large fires can spread across the northern hemisphere, reducing sunshine. Roșu's earlier research showed the 2023 fires cooled summer temperatures by nearly 1°C, yet 2023 remained the hottest year on record, later surpassed by 2024. After a discussion with fire expert Matthew Jones at the University of East Anglia, the team analyzed solar generation data and climate models, accounting for smoke's cooling effect boosting panel efficiency by 20 per cent in Europe.

Based on electricity prices, North America lost $711 million, mainly in the US, while Europe lost almost $1.17 billion, with Germany hit hardest. Europe's higher electricity prices and the US's southern and western solar installations being less affected explain the difference. The impact exceeded expectations, leading to increased CO2 emissions as other energy sources compensated. Roșu emphasized that fire affects pollution, health, weather, and solar power.