China
China confirmed that covering a desert with solar panels changes the ecosystem — forever
China has just discovered that deserts can be the ideal environment for solar panels. Photovoltaic installations in arid areas not only generate large amounts of clean energy, but can also improve the local ecosystem.
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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 microclimate, soil properties and vegetation.
To measure the ecological and environmental effects of the installation, scientists used the “Driving-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 greater weight to those with less variability. The research focuses on Qinghai's Gonghe Photovoltaic Park, a massive 1 GW facility located in the arid Talatan Desert in the mountainous province of Qinghai.
The area inside the solar park had a score of 0.4393, classified as “general” by the model, while the transition areas and areas outside the park were classified as “poor”, with scores of 0.2858 and 0.2802, respectively.
The development of photovoltaic energy improved the microclimate, soil properties and diversity of plants and microorganisms in the area where solar panels cast shade, reduced air pressure and humidified the environment.
The installation changed the distribution of energy on the desert's surface, creating more favorable conditions for vegetation and microbial life. “Photovoltaic development has had a positive effect on the ecology and environment of desert areas,” say the researchers in their study published in Scientific Reports.