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Numerical model study on influences of photovoltaic plants on local microclimate

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  • Li, Biao
  • Lei, Chen
  • Zhang, Wenpu
  • Olawoore, Victor Samuel
  • Shuai, Yong

Abstract

The construction of large-scale photovoltaic plants will inevitably change the local environment. We consider that the influences of such increasing large-scale photovoltaic installations on radiation, temperature, wind profile and other factors within the region can be described in a layer of photovoltaic canopy. This paper improves the UCRC-Solar model for photovoltaic plants, with reference to the calculation of sensible heat flux of the underlying forest surface. Model verification was done with measured data from the Red Rock photovoltaic plant, Arizona, USA. In this study, it indicates that photovoltaic plant has locally generated heat island effects in daytime. The calculation of local microclimate changes before and after the construction of the photovoltaic plants and, the impact of photovoltaic coverage finds an increase in the temperature daily range and a reduction in the ground temperature by about 5 °C. Furthermore, a 15 % increase in photovoltaic coverage increased the daily 3 m air temperature difference by 0.55 °C and reduced the ground temperature by 3.6 °C in the day and 1.1 °C at night, respectively. In the future, rain and snow processes would be considered to further explore the microclimate impact of photovoltaic plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Biao & Lei, Chen & Zhang, Wenpu & Olawoore, Victor Samuel & Shuai, Yong, 2024. "Numerical model study on influences of photovoltaic plants on local microclimate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:221:y:2024:i:c:s0960148123014660
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.119551
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    2. Li, Mengdi & Han, Chuanfeng & Meng, Lingpeng & Liu, Pihui, 2025. "Spatiotemporal heterogeneity in regional efficiency and potential of solar PV generation in China: A three-stage SBM and GTWR approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
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    4. Li, Biao & Lei, Chen & Zhang, Wenpu & Xu, Jingru & Shuai, Yong, 2025. "A numerical simulation study of microclimate in PV power plant using coupled WRF-PVCM," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).

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