Advances in Earth Science

   

A Comparative Study on Micro-meteorology and Vegetation Effects of Centralized Photovoltaic Power Stations in High-Altitude Desert Regions

Ma Hongyuan1,2, Ye Deli1, 2, Zhang Jiachen1, 2, Tang Feifei3, 4, Cui Yingying3*   

  1. (1. Photovoltaic Industry Technology Branch, Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co., LTD, Xining 810008, China; 2. Research Center for Plateau Energy Industry and Ecology, Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Development Co., LTD, Xining 810008, China; 3. Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Plateau Climate Change and Corresponding Ecological and Environmental Effects, Qinghai Institute of Technology, Xining 810016, China; 4. College of Geographical Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810016, China)
  • About author:Ma Hongyuan, research areas include the ecological effects of clean energy development. E-mail: ma_hongyuan@foxmail.com
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2024YFF0729101);SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development Co., LTD Scientific Research Project (Grant No. KY-C-2024-GF04, KY-C-2025-HB05).

Ma Hongyuan, Ye Deli, Zhang Jiachen, Tang Feifei, Cui Yingying. A Comparative Study on Micro-meteorology and Vegetation Effects of Centralized Photovoltaic Power Stations in High-Altitude Desert Regions[J]. Advances in Earth Science, DOI: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2026.009.

Abstract: To investigate the differences in microclimatic and ecological environmental effects of centralized photovoltaic (PV) power stations under diverse climatic backgrounds, high-altitude desert PV stations located in Qinghai Province were selected as the focal point of this research. These sites were chosen to represent three typical climatic backgrounds: hyper-arid, arid, and semi-arid zones. Micro-meteorology factors and vegetation evolution characteristics inside and outside the PV arrays were analyzed by employing paired insideoutside observations and long-time-series NDVI retrieval. It was indicated by the results that distinct, non-linear responses are exhibited by the microclimatic and ecological effects of PV stations along the aridity gradient. Water availability was identified as the core regulatory factor modulating these interactions. Specifically, a significant "heat island effect" with no observable vegetation recovery was observed in the hyper-arid zone, primarily attributed to severe moisture deficits. A transitional state was demonstrated in the arid zone, characterized by nighttime warming and slight humidification effects, accompanied by a discernible trend toward vegetation recovery. In stark contrast, positive ecosystem feedback mechanisms were displayed in the semi-arid zone; here, soil moisture conservation was significantly facilitated by the shading and wind-blocking effects of PV modules. Improved moisture status was found to enable rapid vegetation restoration, by which the physical warming effects of the panels were subsequently offset through the mechanism of transpirational cooling. The evolutionary mechanism by which the ecological impacts of PV stations transition from purely physical disturbances to active ecological regulation is elucidated in this study. The feasibility of achieving synergy between large-scale photovoltaic development and ecological restoration, provided that moisture conditions are suitable, is empirically confirmed. In the future, the implementation of stable, long-term, and large-scale ecometeorological observations, coupled with the development of ecological mechanism models specifically tailored for PV parks, is considered essential. A deeper, mechanistic understanding of the ecological footprints of photovoltaics will be facilitated by these efforts, thereby providing robust scientific evidence and support for optimizing decision-making in sustainable energy planning.
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