Coal Pollution Cuts Global Solar Output by 5.8%, China Loses 7.7%

Researchers from the University of Oxford and University College London analyzed satellite data covering 140,000 solar installations worldwide. Their work, published in *Nature Sustainability*, quantifies how particulate matter from coal‑fired power stations blocks sunlight and reduces photovoltaic output.

Global solar electricity generation fell by 5.8% in 2023 due to aerosols, equating to 111 terawatt‑hours—roughly the annual output of 18 medium‑sized coal plants. China, the world’s top solar producer, saw a 7.7% drop in yield, and roughly 29% of that loss is attributable directly to coal‑fired emissions. Between 2017 and 2023, aerosol‑related losses from existing solar fleets averaged 74.0 terawatt‑hours per year, nearly one‑third of the yearly gains from new solar capacity.

The findings reveal a hidden drag on the renewable transition: expanding solar capacity alongside coal plants can undermine the very gains those panels are meant to deliver. Ignoring pollution‑induced losses risks overstating progress toward climate targets and misallocating investment. Improving air quality—through stricter emission standards or shifting subsidies away from coal—could recover a significant portion of lost solar output.