Environmental impact assessment of agrophotovoltaic power plants based on cross-regional empirical evidence

Abstract

With the rapid progress of energy transition aimed at achieving carbon neutrality goals, a significant number of centralized ground photovoltaic (PV) power plants have been widely established across China. However, the impacts of PV panels on climate, soil, and vegetation have not been systematically studied, especially in nature-based agrophotovoltaic power plants. Taking three of the typical agrophotovoltaic power plants in Zhejiang Province, China as examples, combining perennial consecutive daily onsite meteorological monitoring and filed plot sampling data, this study conducts an in-depth assessment of the environmental effects. Our results show that: (1) the wind speed under panels (UP) was significantly lower than that between panels (BP), with reductions ranging from 40.32 to 41.43%; the net total radiation and photosynthetically active radiation of UP decreased by 67.17% and 74.83% compared to BP, respectively; (2) there were no significant variations in soil nutrient contents between UP and BP; and (3) the normalized difference vegetation index and fresh weight of vegetation of UP were lower than those of BP. However, there was no significant difference in aboveground biomass (dry weight). Our results suggest that agrophotovoltaic power plants can sustainably generate electricity while preserving land productivity through precision fertilizer management and appropriate crop selection in East China.

Keywords

Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality / Clean energy / Solar farm / Sustainable development goals / Vegetation index

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(72204220)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

The Author(s)