IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i8p3403-d348799.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Observational Study on the Impact of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Development in Deserts on Local Air Temperature and Humidity

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Wu

    (State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, China)

  • Shengjuan Yue

    (State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, China
    State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China)

  • Xiaode Zhou

    (State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, China)

  • Mengjing Guo

    (State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, China)

  • Jiawei Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, China)

  • Lei Ren

    (State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, China)

  • Bo Yuan

    (State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, China)

Abstract

As an important form of clean energy, photovoltaic (PV) power generation is entering a rapid development phase. Qinghai, China is located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It has sufficient sunlight and rich heat and light resources, includes a large area of the Gobi Desert, and has become China’s largest base for PV power generation. However, large-scale PV development in deserts changes the local surface energy distribution and impacts local microclimates. This study considered the Gonghe PV Power Plant in Qinghai as an example. Three monitoring stations were set up in the PV power plant, transition, and reference areas, and the influence of large-scale PV developments on the local air temperature and humidity was studied based on long-term, multi-point field observation data. The results showed that the overall daytime air temperature in the PV power plant had changed slightly (increased and decreased), while the night-time temperature dropped significantly. Specifically, in spring and summer, the daytime temperature increased slightly, with a maximum increase of 0.34 °C; in autumn and winter, the daytime temperature decreased slightly, with a maximum decrease of 0.26 °C; in all seasons, the night-time temperature decreased, with a maximum decrease of 1.82 °C during the winter night. The relative humidity in the PV power plant generally increased; except for a slight decrease in summer, the daytime and night-time relative humidity in spring, autumn, and winter always increased. The humidification in winter was the most significant, with increases of 5.00% and 4.76% for the transition and reference areas, respectively. The diurnal air temperature and relative humidity ranges in the PV power plant were greater than those outside the PV power plant. The results obtained in this field observation study could serve as a basis for quantitative evaluation of the microclimate effects of large-scale PV development in deserts and provide technical support for guiding the future planning and development of the PV industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Wu & Shengjuan Yue & Xiaode Zhou & Mengjing Guo & Jiawei Wang & Lei Ren & Bo Yuan, 2020. "Observational Study on the Impact of Large-Scale Photovoltaic Development in Deserts on Local Air Temperature and Humidity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3403-:d:348799
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/8/3403/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/8/3403/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shuyu Dai & Dongxiao Niu & Yaru Han, 2018. "Forecasting of Energy-Related CO 2 Emissions in China Based on GM(1,1) and Least Squares Support Vector Machine Optimized by Modified Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Chang, Rui & Shen, Yanbo & Luo, Yong & Wang, Bo & Yang, Zhenbin & Guo, Peng, 2018. "Observed surface radiation and temperature impacts from the large-scale deployment of photovoltaics in the barren area of Gonghe, China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 131-137.
    3. Asl-Soleimani, E & Farhangi, S & Zabihi, M.S, 2001. "The effect of tilt angle, air pollution on performance of photovoltaic systems in Tehran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 459-468.
    4. Zhuoting Wu & Paul Dijkstra & George W. Koch & Bruce A. Hungate, 2012. "Biogeochemical and ecological feedbacks in grassland responses to warming," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 2(6), pages 458-461, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Peidu Li & Xiaoqing Gao & Junxia Jiang & Liwei Yang & Yujie Li, 2020. "Characteristic Analysis of Water Quality Variation and Fish Impact Study of Fish-Lighting Complementary Photovoltaic Power Station," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Hurduc, Alexandra & Ermida, Sofia L. & Brito, Miguel C. & Göttsche, Frank-M. & DaCamara, Carlos, 2024. "Impact of a small-scale solar park on temperature and vegetation parameters obtained from Landsat 8," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Peidu & Gao, Xiaoqing & Li, Zhenchao & Ye, Tiange & Zhou, Xiyin, 2022. "Effects of fishery complementary photovoltaic power plant on near-surface meteorology and energy balance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 698-709.
    2. Mondol, Jayanta Deb & Yohanis, Yigzaw G. & Norton, Brian, 2007. "The impact of array inclination and orientation on the performance of a grid-connected photovoltaic system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 118-140.
    3. Armendariz-Lopez, J.F. & Luna-Leon, A. & Gonzalez-Trevizo, M.E. & Arena-Granados, A.P. & Bojorquez-Morales, G., 2016. "Life cycle cost of photovoltaic technologies in commercial buildings in Baja California, Mexico," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(P1), pages 564-571.
    4. Yao, Wanxiang & Kong, Xiangru & Xu, Ai & Xu, Puyan & Wang, Yan & Gao, Weijun, 2023. "New models for the influence of rainwater on the performance of photovoltaic modules under different rainfall conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    5. Yanbin Li & Zhen Li, 2019. "Forecasting of Coal Demand in China Based on Support Vector Machine Optimized by the Improved Gravitational Search Algorithm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Yuhong Zhao & Ruirui Liu & Zhansheng Liu & Liang Liu & Jingjing Wang & Wenxiang Liu, 2023. "A Review of Macroscopic Carbon Emission Prediction Model Based on Machine Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-28, April.
    7. Muñoz-García, Miguel-Ángel & Fouris, Tom & Pilat, Eric, 2021. "Analysis of the soiling effect under different conditions on different photovoltaic glasses and cells using an indoor soiling chamber," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 1560-1568.
    8. Le Roux, W.G., 2016. "Optimum tilt and azimuth angles for fixed solar collectors in South Africa using measured data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA), pages 603-612.
    9. Karim Menoufi, 2017. "Dust Accumulation on the Surface of Photovoltaic Panels: Introducing the Photovoltaic Soiling Index (PVSI)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-12, June.
    10. Santhakumari, Manju & Sagar, Netramani, 2019. "A review of the environmental factors degrading the performance of silicon wafer-based photovoltaic modules: Failure detection methods and essential mitigation techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 83-100.
    11. Adinoyi, Muhammed J. & Said, Syed A.M., 2013. "Effect of dust accumulation on the power outputs of solar photovoltaic modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 633-636.
    12. Miguel Centeno Brito, 2020. "Assessing the Impact of Photovoltaics on Rooftops and Facades in the Urban Micro-Climate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-10, May.
    13. Kaldellis, J.K. & Fragos, P. & Kapsali, M., 2011. "Systematic experimental study of the pollution deposition impact on the energy yield of photovoltaic installations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 2717-2724.
    14. Kaldellis, J.K. & Kapsali, M., 2011. "Simulating the dust effect on the energy performance of photovoltaic generators based on experimental measurements," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 5154-5161.
    15. Kafka, Jennifer & Miller, Mark A., 2020. "The dual angle solar harvest (DASH) method: An alternative method for organizing large solar panel arrays that optimizes incident solar energy in conjunction with land use," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 531-546.
    16. Shoeibi, Shahin & Kargarsharifabad, Hadi & Mirjalily, Seyed Ali Agha & Zargarazad, Mojtaba, 2021. "Performance analysis of finned photovoltaic/thermal solar air dryer with using a compound parabolic concentrator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    17. Maghami, Mohammad Reza & Hizam, Hashim & Gomes, Chandima & Radzi, Mohd Amran & Rezadad, Mohammad Ismael & Hajighorbani, Shahrooz, 2016. "Power loss due to soiling on solar panel: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1307-1316.
    18. Hamed Hanifi & Bengt Jaeckel & Matthias Pander & David Dassler & Sagarika Kumar & Jens Schneider, 2022. "Techno-Economic Assessment of Half-Cell Modules for Desert Climates: An Overview on Power, Performance, Durability and Costs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-21, April.
    19. Jiang, Junxia & Gao, Xiaoqing & Lv, Qingquan & Li, Zhenchao & Li, Peidu, 2021. "Observed impacts of utility-scale photovoltaic plant on local air temperature and energy partitioning in the barren areas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 157-169.
    20. Lv, Furong & Tang, Haiping, 2024. "Sustainable photovoltaic power generation spatial planning through ecosystem service valuation: A case study of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3403-:d:348799. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.