Lost solar power due to smoke blocking the sun cost Europe and North America nearly $2 billion in 2023 alone
A recent investigation into the record-breaking 2023 Canadian wildfire season has revealed that traveling smoke plumes lowered solar energy output across North America and Europe by 3 percent. The reduction in clean energy generation resulted in financial losses totaling approximately $2 billion and forced power grids to rely more heavily on fossil fuels.
Iulian-Alin Roșu of the Technical University of Crete in Greece noted that large-scale wildfire events originating in Canada appear likely to recur annually. Smoke from these blazes is capable of dispersing across large portions of the northern hemisphere, significantly dimming incoming sunlight.
Researchers examined solar power generation records from North America and Europe, integrating the information into a climate model previously utilized by Roșu. The calculations factored in that the smoke's cooling effect slightly improves photovoltaic panel efficiency—boosting it by 20 percent in Europe—which partially offsets the loss of direct sunlight.
Financial losses varied by region due to differing electricity costs and geographic exposure to the smoke. North America, with the United States bearing the brunt, recorded $711 million in losses, whereas Europe incurred nearly $1.17 billion, with Germany experiencing the most severe impact. Roșu explained that Europe's higher financial toll stems primarily from elevated electricity rates and the fact that much of the solar infrastructure in the U.S. is located in southern and western regions that escaped heavy smoke coverage.
Because photovoltaic generation dropped significantly, other sectors of the power industry had to step in to make up the deficit, driving up carbon dioxide emissions. Similar smoke patterns originating from Canada have drifted over to Europe again, prompting early indications that a comparable trend is unfolding currently, though data remains incomplete while the wildfire season is still underway.
Originally reported by New Scientist on Aug 4, 2026.
