Home / Environment / India's Solar Power Hit By Smog: 9.6% Drop in 2023
India's Solar Power Hit By Smog: 9.6% Drop in 2023
28 May
Summary
- Aerosols reduced India's solar power generation by 9.6% in 2023.
- Global solar power loss from aerosols averaged 5.8% in 2023.
- China improved solar energy output by cutting pollution since 2013.
In 2023, India experienced a substantial 9.6% decrease in solar power generation due to atmospheric aerosols, amounting to approximately 15 terawatt-hours. This figure represents one of the highest losses globally, with the northern regions of India being particularly affected. The global average reduction in solar power generation from aerosols in the same year was 5.8%.
Aerosols, fine particles from sources like coal plants and vehicles, directly obstruct sunlight from reaching solar panels. Between 2017 and 2023, India's annual losses averaged 74 TWh, a significant amount compared to new solar capacity generation.
China, despite generating more solar power, faced a smaller fraction of loss (7.7%) due to aerosols. The country has actively reduced pollution-related solar power losses by about 1.4% annually since 2013 by retrofitting coal plants with flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) technology.
India's aerosol-induced losses have remained stagnant over the past decade. Furthermore, a government decision in 2025 weakened targets for FGD unit installation, limiting requirements to plants near major cities or critically polluted areas.
