With Air Quality at an All-Time High, Solar Energy Efficiency Skyrockets. But Can It Last?

The Sheffield Solar live PV generation tracker in England recently reported a record-setting 9.68 GW of solar power generation on April 20, meeting close to 30% of the country’s total demand for electricity. That’s the equivalent of about ten fossil fuel or nuclear power plants. Significantly, as the UK's Solar Trade Association notes, this has contributed to the nation’s ability to go for 11.5 days without using any coal to generate electricity. The Solar Trade Association points to ideal weather conditions and decreased pollution levels (a result of stay-at-home orders) as the cause of maximized solar PV efficiency.