Study Assesses Wildfire Smoke Impact on Solar Energy

Recent studies led by Colorado State University and other institutions have examined the effects of wildfire smoke on solar energy production and indoor air quality. The research revealed that local wildfire smoke can significantly reduce solar irradiance—direct normal irradiance (DNI) by 32-42% and global horizontal irradiance (GHI) by 11-17%) in California during the 2020 wildfire season. However, the impact of smoke is less pronounced at a national level, with minimal interference from transported smoke beyond regions immediately surrounding fires. Concurrently, investigations into smoke-damaged homes post-Marshall Fire found that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene and naphthalene persisted indoors for over a month, posing health risks to residents. Efforts to clear the air temporarily reduced VOC levels, but they quickly rebounded once measures were discontinued. These findings underscore the need to consider both outdoor and indoor air quality in the context of increasing wildfire events and their implications for renewable energy efforts.