While solar energy is often touted as an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, the installation of solar panels in a desert ecosystem could damage natural habitats. Another significant hurdle is that photovoltaic solar cells become less efficient in extreme heat.
Desert areas offer rich solar resources and low land use costs, ideal for large-scale new energy development. However, desert ecosystems are fragile, and large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power facilities pose ecological risks. Current assessments of PV plant sites in deserts lack consideration of wind-sand hazards and ecological impacts.
Here are some ways to tackle the challenges of installing solar PV in deserts to make the projects viable. Install panels designed for harsh conditions. Some solar panel manufacturers produce heavy-duty panels that provide extreme heat resistance and low degradation losses. Use dry cleaning methods.
Should solar power stations be built in desert areas?
As renewable energy development is accelerating globally, more and more PV power stations are built in desert areas to meet the growing demand for sustainable energy (Kruitwagen et al., 2021; Li et al., 2018).
In the year 2022, the Chinese government proposed the construction of numerous expansive PV and wind power installations within sandy and gravel deserts (People's Daily, 2023). This approach will contribute to the expeditious advancement of China's renewable energy restructuring. Fig. 1. Map of solar resources and desert distributions.
Should solar plants be located in desert climates?
There are some clear benefits to locating solar plants in desert climates for project developers to consider. High solar irradiance. Irradiance measures the total power density of sunlight that falls on an area. The higher the level of irradiance, the higher the output current, and in turn the more power that is generated. Ample space.
Could a desert be the best place to harvest solar power?
The world's most forbidding deserts could be the best places on Earth for harvesting solar power – the most abundant and clean source of energy we have. Deserts are spacious, relatively flat, rich in silicon – the raw material for the semiconductors from which solar cells are made — and never short of sunlight.