China has confirmed that covering the desert with solar panels changes the ecosystem. for good

In China they have proven that deserts can be the ideal environment to install solar panels. Photovoltaic installations in arid areas not only generate large amounts of clean energy, but they can also improve the local ecosystem.

the study. A team of researchers from Xi’an University of Technology has found that the development of large solar parks in desert areas has positive effects on the microclimate, soil properties and vegetation.

Method. To measure the ecological and environmental impacts of the facility, scientists used the “Drive-Pressure-State-Impact-Response” (DPSIR) model recommended by the European Environment Agency.

They evaluated 57 indicators and applied the entropy method to weight each indicator, giving more relevance to indicators with less variability.

Result. This research focuses on the Qinghai Gonghe Photovoltaic Park, a massive 1 GW facility located in the arid Taltan Desert in the mountainous province of Qinghai.

The contrast was amazing. The area inside the solar park received a score of 0.4393, classified as “normal” by the model, while the transition zone and areas outside the park were classified as “poor” with scores of 0.2858 and 0.2802 respectively. Classified.

conclusion. Photovoltaic developments improved the microclimate, soil properties, and diversity of plants and microorganisms in the area where solar panels cast shade, reducing wind pressure and humidifying the environment.

The installation has modified the distribution of energy over the desert surface, creating more favorable conditions for plant and microbial life. “Photovoltaic development has had a positive impact on the ecology and environment of desert areas,” the researchers said in their study published in Scientific Reports.

What will happen next? The researchers propose long-term monitoring of the ecological and environmental impacts of photovoltaic installations to maximize their benefits and minimize potential negative impacts.

As demand for renewable energy increases, understanding how large facilities impact local ecosystems will be critical to identifying ideal locations to build them.

Image | Wei Wu et al.

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