Wildfire Smoke And Solar Production: Key Facts

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Wildfire Smoke And Solar Production: Key Facts

Well, well, well. If it isn’t our old friend, wildfire season. Just when we think we have our solar panels dialed in for maximum summer sun, the sky turns an eerie orange and the air gets thick. If you’ve glanced at your solar monitoring app during one of these smoky spells and felt a pang of panic, you are definitely not alone. We have been there too.

At JD Solar Panel Solutions here in Los Angeles, we get calls every fire season from folks worried their brand-new system is already on the fritz. So, let’s have a real chat about what’s actually happening up there on your roof when the air looks like a scene from a sci-fi movie. Spoiler alert: your panels are probably fine, but your energy production is taking a well-deserved (and slightly frustrating) nap.

What Exactly Does Wildfire Smoke Do to Sunlight?

Before we blame our solar panels for being lazy, we need to understand the new rules of the game. Wildfire smoke fundamentally changes the sunlight that reaches your roof. It’s not just a simple dimming effect; it’s a complete spectral makeover.

The Atmosphere’s Unwanted Filter

Think of clean, clear air as a perfectly clean window. Sunlight, including all the light waves that solar panels love to eat, passes through with ease. Now, wildfire smoke is like slapping a dense, dirty filter on that window. This filter is made of tiny particles of soot, ash, and other aerosols.

This smoky filter does two main things:

• It Scatters Light: The particles bounce sunlight around, sending a lot of it back into space or in different directions. This is why the sun often looks like a dull red orb during heavy smoke—the blue light waves get scattered away, leaving only the reds and oranges.
• It Absorbs Light: Some of the light energy gets converted into heat by the smoke particles themselves, meaning that energy never even makes it to your panels.

The result? The total amount of solar energy, known as irradiance, that hits your panels drops significantly. It’s a simple equation: less light energy in means less electrical energy out.

Not All Light is Created Equal (And Your Panels Know It)

Here’s a bit of solar nerdery we find fascinating. Solar panels are specifically designed to be most efficient at converting certain wavelengths of light into electricity. They are superstars with direct, beaming sunlight. Smoke and haze, however, create a condition called “diffuse light,” where the light is softened and scattered.

While modern panels can still generate power from diffuse light, they are simply less efficient at it. So, it’s a double whammy: the overall amount of light is reduced, and the type of light available is the kind your panels are less excited about. It’s like asking a gourmet chef to make a masterpiece with a limited pantry.

By How Much Does Smoke Actually Reduce Solar Production?

This is the million-dollar question, and the answer is, frustratingly, “it depends.” But we can give you some real-world ballparks based on what we see with our clients at JD Solar Panel Solutions across Los Angeles.

The severity of the hit depends entirely on the thickness and density of the smoke. A light haze might only cause a 10-20% dip. But during those intense, apocalypse-orange days we’ve experienced lately? We have seen production plummet by 50%, 80%, or even more.

Why such a wide range? A few factors play a role:

• Smoke Density: This is the big one. The AQI (Air Quality Index) is a pretty good proxy. A higher AQI generally correlates with a bigger production loss.
• Panel Tilt and Orientation: The angle of your panels matters. Smoke affects the entire sky, so the impact is often more uniform than, say, a shadow from a tree.
• Panel Technology: Some higher-end panels are slightly better at handling low-light conditions, but no panel is immune to a thick smoke layer.

Let’s break down what a typical smoky week might look like for a system in the San Fernando Valley.

The Silver Lining: This is (Usually) Temporary

Okay, take a deep breath (through a good mask, of course). The most important thing to remember is that this reduction in output is almost always temporary. Once the smoke clears and the winds shift, your panels will go right back to their normal, sun-soaking selves.

Unlike physical damage, which requires solar panel service, smoke-induced low production is not a sign that your system is broken. It’s just responding to its environment. Think of it as your solar system taking a sick day because the weather itself is sick.

Should You Be Cleaning Your Panels More During Fire Season?

This is a fantastic question, and one we hear all the time. When ash is literally falling from the sky, it feels logical to want to grab a hose and wash it all away. But is it necessary?

The short answer is: probably not as much as you think.

A light layer of ash and dust does have a minor impact on production, but it’s often negligible—usually in the 1-5% range. The overwhelming majority of your production loss is coming from the smoke particles in the air, not the dust on the panels.

So, when should you consider professional solar panel cleaning?

• After the smoke has fully cleared. Wait until the air is clean and the ash fall has stopped. There’s no point in cleaning them only for more ash to settle the next day.
• If you notice a significant, persistent drop in production even after the air quality returns to normal. This could indicate that a substantial layer of grime has built up.
• As part of your routine solar panel maintenance services. We generally recommend a professional cleaning once or twice a year in our dusty LA environment, and scheduling one for after fire season is a brilliant idea.

A quick word of caution: Climbing on your roof can be dangerous, and using the wrong cleaning techniques can scratch your panels or void the warranty. For a thorough and safe job, it’s best to hire a professional solar company for solar panel cleaning. It’s an affordable way to ensure your system is in peak condition. FYI, we include a check-up with our cleaning services at JD Solar Panel Solutions to make sure everything is performing perfectly.

The Bigger Picture: Grid Stability and Your Role

When wildfire smoke blankets an entire region, it’s not just your home system that feels the pinch. Utility-scale solar farms see the same massive drop in production. This can put a strain on the electrical grid, especially during hot summers when air conditioning demand is high.

This is where your solar system, combined with a battery, becomes an absolute superhero. While the grid is stressed, you can be drawing from the energy your system produced and stored when the skies were clear. You are not only protecting yourself from potential outages but also alleviating pressure on the community grid. IMO, that’s a win-win.

Long-Term Impacts: Could Smoke Permanently Damage My Panels?

Thankfully, the answer here is a reassuring no. The smoke and ash themselves are not corrosive and will not cause permanent damage to the glass surface of your panels. The primary long-term consideration is heat.

Wait, heat? On a cloudy, smoky day? It seems counterintuitive, but smoke can sometimes lead to slightly higher operating temperatures for panels. How? The smoke layer can trap heat near the ground, creating a slight insulating effect. Since solar panels become less efficient as they get hotter, this can add another tiny penalty to your production.

However, this effect is minor and, like the production loss, completely reversible. Once the smoke is gone, the temperature regulation returns to normal.

Your Action Plan for Wildfire Season

So, what should you actually do when the smoke rolls in? Let’s get practical.

1. Don’t Panic. Resist the urge to check your monitoring app every five minutes. You will just stress yourself out. The drop is normal.
2. Conserve Energy (If You Can). Be mindful of your electricity use. Run major appliances like dishwashers and washing machines at night when overall grid demand is lower.
3. Check Your Inverter. A quick visual check can be helpful. Is it showing a green light (or normal operating light)? If yes, then the system is functioning correctly—it just doesn’t have much sun to work with.
4. Note the Date. Keep a mental note of when the smoke started and when it clears. This will help you contextualize the data when you review your system’s performance later.
5. Plan a Post-Season Check-up. Once the air clears, take a look at your production numbers. If they haven’t bounced back to their pre-smoke glory, it might be time for a professional inspection. Maybe it just needs a good cleaning, or perhaps a branch fell and is causing a shadow you didn’t notice.

This is a perfect time to consider our solar panel maintenance services. We can do a full health check, ensure all connections are tight, and give your panels a spa-day cleaning to get them back to 100%. It’s one of the most affordable ways to protect your investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s tackle some of the most common questions we get at our Los Angeles office.

1. My solar production is low, but my neighbor’s seems fine. What gives?
This is a classic head-scratcher. The most likely culprit is differences in monitoring apps or system sizes, making comparisons tricky. However, it could also be due to slight variations in system orientation, shading, or even panel technology. If you’re truly concerned, the best solar installers (like us!) can remotely check your system’s data for any real faults.

2. Will cleaning my panels myself void the warranty?
It can, if you use abrasive materials or harsh chemicals that damage the anti-reflective coating. Using a high-pressure washer can also force water past the seals. We always recommend a gentle rinse with a garden hose from the ground or calling a professional for solar servicing. It’s not worth the risk to your expensive investment.

3. Does this mean solar isn’t a good investment for fire-prone areas?
Absolutely not! In fact, it’s quite the opposite. While smoke may cause a temporary dip, the vast majority of the year, your system is producing clean, affordable power and protecting you from rising utility rates. Over the 25+ year life of a system, a few weeks of smoke have a negligible impact on the overall financial returns. The benefits far outweigh this temporary seasonal challenge.

Wrapping Up: Knowledge is Power (Literally)

Look, living with wildfire smoke is a new reality for many of us. But understanding its impact on our solar panels takes away the fear and replaces it with knowledge. Remember, your system is resilient. It’s built for the long haul.

The key takeaway? Wildfire smoke causes a significant but temporary reduction in solar production. It’s not a defect, and it’s not a reason for major concern. The best thing you can do is monitor your system’s overall health through professional solar maintenance and enjoy the clean, free energy it produces the other 95% of the year.

If you’re ever unsure about your system’s performance or just want a professional opinion, that’s what we’re here for. Whether you’re considering a new residential solar installation or need to service an existing system, feel free to reach out to us at JD Solar Panel Solutions. We’re your local solar energy company, and we’re in this smoky situation together.