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Arid Land Geography ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (10): 1793-1803.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.780

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research progress on the ecological suitability of grassland photovoltaic ecosystem

CHEN Chunbo1,2,3(), LI Gangyong3,4(), CHEN Dongbo5, ZHAO Yan3,6, PENG Jian3,4, WANG Yugang1, LI Junli1,2,3   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    2. Key Laboratory of GlS & RS Application Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    3. Joint Laboratory for Remote Sensing Observation of Grassland Ecosystem in Arid Area, Urumqi 830049, Xinjiang, China
    4. Xinjiang Grassland Technical Promotion Station, Urumqi 830049, Xinjiang, China
    5. Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology Research Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, Sichuan, China
    6. Forestry and Grassland Technology Promotion Center of Changji Prefecture, Changji 831100, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2024-12-23 Revised:2025-01-06 Online:2025-10-25 Published:2025-10-27
  • Contact: LI Gangyong E-mail:ccb_8586@ms.xjb.ac.cn;ligangyong1013@hotmail.com

Abstract:

Photovoltaic (PV) solar power generation is experiencing rapid growth, particularly in large-scale centralized systems. This expansion helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels (coal, oil, etc.) and alleviates climate change pressures. Since 2009, global PV installations have increased by approximately 41% and are projected to grow nearly tenfold by 2040. In China, the area dedicated to PV parks expanded from 5.86 km2 in 2010 to 2920 km2 in 2020, reaching about 3712 km2 by the end of 2022. Grassland photovoltaic ecosystems (GPVEs) established in these parks not only optimize solar energy use but also contribute to grassland conservation. Furthermore, they play an increasingly important role in mitigating climate warming and advancing carbon neutrality. This study examines the effects of large-scale PV parks on local microhabitats both within and outside the park boundaries. PV installations alter microhabitat factors, creating variation in conditions across the front, middle, beneath, and between PV arrays. Generally, such disturbances arise from changes in near-surface energy transmission and equilibrium, leading to modified microclimates, soil temperature, humidity, and physicochemical properties. The adaptability and succession of biological communities (including plants, animals, and soil microorganisms) were investigated in relation to these altered habitats, alongside changes in biogeochemical cycles. PV parks can enhance plant productivity, increase aboveground biomass, and improve vegetation coverage. Notable changes in plant density, species composition, and diversity are largely driven by shading effects. Animal communities show varying adaptability as the parks operate, while PV arrays provide shade for livestock, reducing air temperature and skin humidity, thereby lowering heat stress and thermoregulation costs. Soil microorganisms, essential for sustaining ecosystem services, are directly affected by terrestrial biogeochemical cycles, especially carbon cycling. PV development influences carbon and nitrogen storage in plants (aboveground and belowground) and soil, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. This work integrates themes of green low-carbon technology, digital intelligence, and sustainable development. It highlights the shortcomings and future development directions of GPVEs in an ecological suitability framework. The findings provide guidance for advancing the green development model of “grassland photovoltaics plus” (e.g., photovoltaic grass production and grass-light complementary systems) and for promoting integrated desertification control.

Key words: grassland photovoltaic ecosystem, ecological suitability, desertification control with photovoltaic, grass growing boosted by photovoltaic array, grassland photovoltaic complementary mode, photovoltaic solar power park (PV park)