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Researchers recommend early bushfire assessment for solar sites.
Smoke from major bushfires could cut solar electricity generation by 70% at farms within 50 kilometres (km) and by around 30% even from more than 150 km away, according to UNSW Sydney.
Findings suggest solar farm operators should improve smoke pathways forecasting, inspections and panel cleaning
UNSW examined the effects of two major Australian bushfires — the Black Summer fires and the Black Saturday fires — using historical weather and satellite data to model how smoke and airborne particles impact generation and temperatures of panels.
The study said that smoke and airborne particles block sunlight from reaching the panels, lowering electricity production.
In the Black Summer bushfires, researchers found that electricity generation fell by 70% at locations within 50 km of the fire for several consecutive days, whilst up to 30% for regions further than 150 km away.
In the Black Saturday bushfires, generation was down 18% near the fires, and up to 10% in distant regions.
The study said impacts vary with the fire severity and weather conditions.
The researchers also said the figures are estimates, as they were unable to separate smoke-related losses from other factors.
The study said that bushfire information, wind patterns and smoke-trajectory modelling can be combined to predict which solar farms are likely to be affected.
Dr Shukla Poddar, the author, said that historical wind patterns could help predict when and where smoke would travel, allowing operators to plan inspections, schedule cleaning or adjust panel positioning before the smoke arrives.
The study also suggested that developers could assess bushfire history and wind patterns before investing in a solar farm site.
“This approach is transferable to other bushfire-prone regions globally, where recurring bushfire activity and atmospheric transport pose similar risks to solar energy generation and asset management,” the study said. 
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