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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Did wildfire smoke curtail California’s solar power supply?

By Jacqueline Agustin
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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.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
KQED: Wildfire smoke decreases California solar energy output
California ISO: Renewables watch for Sept. 1, 2020
California ISO: Renewables watch for Sept. 13, 2020
Bloomberg: When smoke blotted out the sun, rooftop solar withered
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.