Attribution of Solar Energy Yield Gaps due to Transboundary Particulate Matter Pollution Associated with Trade across...

The differences between the actual ability to generate solar energy from photovoltaic (PV) panels and the potential ability are denoted as the solar energy yield gap (SEYG). The role of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and PM deposited on PV panels, associated with domestic and international trade, in attenuating sunlight and influencing SEYGs remains largely unexplored, although their investigation could help mitigate SEYGs. We integrate well-evaluated models of trade, atmospheric composition, and solar PV performance to quantify and attribute the SEYGs that occur in Northeast Asia (NEA) (including China, South Korea, and Japan) to the production and consumption of goods and services within these countries and globally. For utility-scale solar PV facilities, we estimate an SEYG of 33.6 TWh/yr due to the production of goods and services across NEA in 2015. In contrast, the SEYG linked to the consumption of goods and services is lower at 24.6 TWh/yr, with the 9 TWh/yr difference accounting for the net exports outside NEA. Imports have only avoided an SEYG of 1.4 TWh/yr across NEA. Addressing regional SEYGs requires a coordinated response from the producers and consumers of goods and services.