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Wang, K., Tang, R., Zheng, H., Wagner, F. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3429-2374, Zhou, D., Ding, A., & Wang, H.
(2026).
Aerosol-induced dimming and deposition limit solar PV potential in China: regional heterogeneity and clean-air co-benefits.
Atmospheric Environment 381 e122129. 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2026.122129.
Abstract
Atmospheric aerosols reduce photovoltaic (PV) output through radiative dimming and particle deposition, with impacts that vary across regions and pollution regimes. However, the effects of different aerosol sources and compositions, as well as their regional heterogeneity, remain insufficiently understood, limiting assessments relevant to China's energy transition and climate mitigation. Here, we integrate satellite observations, aerosol reanalysis, and a PV performance model to quantify the magnitude, composition-specific contributions, and regional variability of the aerosol dimming and soiling impacts on China's PV potential during the Clean Air Action (CAA) period 2013–2020. We find that aerosol dimming and soiling reduced China's PV capacity factor by annual mean values of 0.043 and 0.017, respectively, under a yearly-reset soiling assumption. The largest losses occur in industrialized eastern China, where anthropogenic aerosols dominate and electricity demand is concentrated. This region also experienced the largest mitigation during the CAA period. Notably, soiling-related PV losses are, on average, more responsive to anthropogenic emission reductions than dimming-related losses in our estimates. However, northwestern China continues to experience persistent and highly variable soiling dominated by natural dust, limiting the effectiveness of emission controls here. While northwest China holds the largest technical potential for centralized PV deployment, eastern China offers substantial opportunities for rapidly expanding rooftop PV. Reducing anthropogenic aerosol emissions in eastern China could therefore yield significant gains in PV generation, together with co-benefits for air quality and reduced PV maintenance needs, thereby facilitating the renewable energy transition.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Air pollution, Aerosol deposition, Radiative effects, Solar power, Co-benefits |
| Research Programs: | Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) > Pollution Management (PM) Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE) > Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions (TISS) |
| Depositing User: | Luke Kirwan |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Jun 2026 07:54 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Jun 2026 07:54 |
| URI: | https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/21647 |
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