Effects of Photovoltaic Solar Farms on Microclimate and Vegetation Diversity

Jeffrey Vervloesem, Ernesto Marcheggiani, Abdul Mueed Choudhury Md and Bart Muys
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Jeffrey Vervloesem: Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Ernesto Marcheggiani: Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Abdul Mueed Choudhury Md: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Bart Muys: Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-31

Abstract: The need for energy and the increasing importance of climate change mitigation are leading to a conversion from conventional to renewable energy sources. Solar photovoltaic (PV) power has seen the most significant increase among all renewable energy sources. However, most of these installations are land-based, significantly changing global land use (LU). The real impacts, whether positive or negative, are poorly understood. This study was undertaken to have a better understanding of the impacts of solar parks on the microclimate and vegetation dynamics. First, different solar parks were visited to take measurements of the surface temperature (T surf ), photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), air temperature (T air ), and humidity (RH) to quantify the microclimate and perform a vegetation relevé. The measurements were taken at different positions: underneath, in between, and outside solar panels. For vegetation, the data were first converted to diversity indices, which in turn contributed to a multi-indicator land use impact assessment that evaluated effects on vegetation, biodiversity, soil and water. Solar parks had clear effects on microclimate: if the panels were high enough from the ground, they could lower the T surf by providing shade and enough airflow. Additionally, the multidimensional functional diversity (FD) analysis of the vegetation indicated that there was less light at a higher humidity and lower temperature underneath the panels. Interestingly, the species underneath the panels also preferred a lower pH and a higher nitrogen level. Finally, the land use impact assessment found that the total land use impact for a wheat field was higher than that of the solar park, which suggests that the conversion of conventional intensive agriculture to a solar park would be beneficial.

Keywords: land use impact; renewable energy; land planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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