Nature Communications · 1 September 2026 · From issue 30
Carbon neutrality strategies modulate air quality effects on solar power generation
In a China model, wind and solar plans boost yearly solar power by over 57,000 gigawatt-hours through cleaner air.
Hongrong Shi, Da Gao et al.
Cleaner air helps solar panels catch more sunlight and make more power. Scientists built computer models of China's energy system, weather, and solar panels together. They found that a plan focused on wind and solar power cleans the air the most. This plan adds 57,526 gigawatt-hours of solar power each year, worth about 5.18 billion dollars by 2060. Plans that burn plant material or capture carbon from fossil fuels only get about a third of this benefit.
Extra yearly solar power gained in China under a wind-and-solar focused carbon plan, versus business as usual.
China-only model projection, not a real-world measurement yet.
Integrity screen: passed (3 checks) Checked 2 September 2026. Retraction record: none. DOI resolves at doi.org. Metadata record found (Nature Communications). Read the source
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