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Nature Reviews Clean Technology (2026)
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Smoke can reduce the amount of electricity a photovoltaic (PV) plant produces, by scattering and absorbing sunlight. Some regions that are well suited for large-scale PV installations are increasingly affected by wildfires and the smoke they produce. PV operators can lose revenue when power generation decreases, meaning that more frequent and severe wildfires will affect the financial performance of PV generation.
The authors highlight that PPAs can mitigate the financial risks that wildfires pose to PV projects. As wildfire seasons lengthen and intensify, the impact of wildfire smoke should be accounted for in the planning and financing of PV projects.
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Treacy, S. M. & Moura, A. B. The effects and financial impacts of wildfire smoke on solar photovoltaic power production in Alberta, Canada. Energy Econ. 161, 109482 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2026.109482 (2026)
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Nature Reviews Clean Technology https://www.nature.com/nrct/
Matthew Allinson
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Correspondence to Matthew Allinson.
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Allinson, M. Wildfire smoke and solar power. Nat. Rev. Clean Technol. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44359-026-00216-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44359-026-00216-8
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Nature Reviews Clean Technology (Nat. Rev. Clean Technol.)
ISSN 3005-0685 (online)
© 2026 Springer Nature Limited
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