A Study on the Visual Impact of Photovoltaic Facilities on Rural Landscapes With the Visual Q-Method

Highlights

	· Boundary, morphology, color, multifunction, and scale of PV facilities are key aspects
	· PV facilities significantly impact natural landscapes with polarized ratings; boundary integration is emphasized
	· PV facilities have a negative impact on rural settlement landscapes; multifunction is accentuated
	· PV facilities have a non-significant impact on rural production landscapes; large-scale layout is prioritized

Abstract

The abundant land resources in rural areas have allowed for a rapid growth of the photovoltaic (PV) industry. However, the large-scale construction of PV facilities has significantly impacted rural landscapes. This study systematically analyzed the visual impact of PV facilities on rural landscapes using the visual Q-method. By selecting images of PV facilities within rural natural, settlement, and production landscapes from different regions in China, visual perception scoring was conducted between experts and non-experts. Statistical analysis of the scoring results using PQMethod2.35 software identified five primary factors influencing the visual impact of PV facilities on rural landscapes: boundary integration, morphological innovation, color richness and coordination, multifunction, and scale. The findings indicate that PV facilities exert the most significant visual impact on rural natural landscapes, with a clear disparity in satisfaction. PV facilities negatively affect rural settlement landscapes, with dissatisfaction frequencies significantly exceeding satisfaction frequencies. However, their visual impact on rural production landscapes is negligible. The results will provide a reference for landscape planning and design of PV facilities in rural areas, supporting the sustainable development of PV facilities.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Visual Q-method / Rural Landscape / Photovoltaic Facility / Photovoltaic Landscape / Visual Impact

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Acknowledgements

· Project of "Research on the New Engineering Talent Training Model for Architecture Majors in Hebei Colleges and Universities Under the Background of Green Development," Research and Practice Project on Teaching Reform in Higher Education of Hebei Province (No. 2020GJJG028) · Project of "Research on the Spatial Restructuring of Rural Areas in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region from the Perspective of Cultural and Tourism Integration," Science Research Project of Hebei Education Department (No. SD2022071) · Project of "Research on Landscape Design Strategy of Photovoltaic Facilities in Rural Areas of Hebei Province Based on Multi-criteria Decision Analysis," Hebei Provincial Social Sciences Fund Project (No. HB24ZT043)

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