Photovoltaic Solar Farms Site Selection through “Policy Constraints–Construction Suitability”: A Case Study of Qilian County, Qinghai

Shasha Chai, Fanjie Kong, Yu Liu (), Mengyin Liang and Quanfeng Liu ()
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Shasha Chai: School of Land Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China
Fanjie Kong: Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Center (Land Science and Technology Innovation Center), Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100035, China
Yu Liu: Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Mengyin Liang: Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Center (Land Science and Technology Innovation Center), Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100035, China
Quanfeng Liu: Cangzhou Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Cangzhou 061011, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: The scientific selection of photovoltaic (PV) sites is essential for achieving sustainable development of renewable energy and ensuring regional ecological security. In western China, extensive land resources coexist with a fragile ecological environment. To this end, we propose a PV siting framework based on policy restrictions and construction suitability. This paper evaluated the PV construction suitability index (CSI) from four dimensions of topography, climate, location, and ecology and proposed typical “PV+” models. Then, Qilian County was selected as a case study. The results showed the following: (1) In Qilian, 59.97% (8333.18 km 2 ) of the area is unsuitable for development due to policy restrictions, leaving 40.03% (5563.02 km 2 ) available for PV construction. (2) The most suitable areas are approximately in the western and southern areas, where there is a lot in common with the reported PV sites under construction. (3) Three distinct PV development models are proposed according to policy guidelines and local circumstances, including the PV + pastoralism model, PV + mine rehabilitation model, and PV + hydropower model. The results can be used to determine the suitable areas for solar PV farms and the appropriate development model, as well as promote the sustainable development of renewable energy.

Keywords: photovoltaic solar farms; policy constraints; construction suitability; site selection; multi-criteria decision making; geographic information system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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