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Did wildfire smoke curtail California’s solar power supply?

Wednesday, September 16, 2020
By Jacqueline Agustin
YES

Solar panels generally perform best under direct sunlight, although they still generate energy under indirect sunlight. The heavy smoke spreading over California from multiple wildfires has reduced solar power generation by up to 20% on some days, according to KQED in San Francisco.

The state power-distribution authority reported total solar panel output on Sept. 13 of about 79,000 megawatt-hours, down from 97,000 on Sept. 1. Bloomberg reported on the case of one San Francisco Bay area resident whose home panel's output on dropped on Sept. 9 to 1.65 kilowatts, vs. 40 kilowatts on a more typical clear summer day.

The solar drop did not cause any overall supply problems as other sources filled any gaps. The smoke also kept temperatures cooler, reducing the usual air-conditioning demand in peak hours.

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