Ecological impacts of single-axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetation
Large, ground-mounted photovoltaic solar projects (GPVs) are expanding rapidly worldwide, driven by their essential role in climate change mitigation and the transition to a low-carbon economy. With the global market for tracking systems projected to increase annually by 32% in capacity by 2050, und...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1497256/full |
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| author | Yudi Li Yudi Li Alona Armstrong Alona Armstrong Christopher Simmons Noah Z. Krasner Noah Z. Krasner Rebecca R. Hernandez Rebecca R. Hernandez Rebecca R. Hernandez Rebecca R. Hernandez |
| author_facet | Yudi Li Yudi Li Alona Armstrong Alona Armstrong Christopher Simmons Noah Z. Krasner Noah Z. Krasner Rebecca R. Hernandez Rebecca R. Hernandez Rebecca R. Hernandez Rebecca R. Hernandez |
| author_sort | Yudi Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Large, ground-mounted photovoltaic solar projects (GPVs) are expanding rapidly worldwide, driven by their essential role in climate change mitigation and the transition to a low-carbon economy. With the global market for tracking systems projected to increase annually by 32% in capacity by 2050, understanding their ecological impacts, including those from their operation and management (O&M), is critical but understudied. This study presents the first comprehensive evaluation of microclimate and vegetation mosaics within a conventional, single-axis GPV managed through regular mowing. In the state of California’s Great Central Valley (United States), we developed a novel experimental framework to characterize five distinct “micro-patches” that capture the full spectrum of microclimate and vegetation zones modulated by the tracking PV system and O&M. Over a 12-month period, we monitored nine above- and belowground microclimate variables and 16 plant ecology metrics across these micro-patches. Beneath PV panels, photosynthetically active radiation decreased by 89%, and wind speed slowed by 46%, while open spaces within the GPV footprint exhibited greater soil surface temperatures (+2.4°C) and accelerated moisture loss (+8.5%) during drought periods. Furthermore, PV panel rotation influenced shading patterns throughout the day, creating temporal variability in air temperature and vapor pressure deficit. Plant surveys identified 37 species, 86% of which were non-native. Marked differences in vegetation across micro-patches indicated that GPVs drive changes in plant community composition, structure, and productivity. Compared to open spaces, vegetation near and within the PV array footprint displayed greater species richness (+8.4%), taller maximum height (+21%), reduced coverage of sun-loving plants (−71%), and less dead biomass accumulation (−26%), from shade-driven effects. These findings suggest the consideration of micro-patch-specific maintenance strategies and nature-based solutions to control invasive, exotic plant species, conferring opportunities to enhance operational, ecological, and socioeconomic sustainability while redressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss simultaneously. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d101a71fad814b7c9d5ed08f3c81b391 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-d101a71fad814b7c9d5ed08f3c81b3912025-02-06T12:03:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainability2673-45242025-02-01610.3389/frsus.2025.14972561497256Ecological impacts of single-axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetationYudi Li0Yudi Li1Alona Armstrong2Alona Armstrong3Christopher Simmons4Noah Z. Krasner5Noah Z. Krasner6Rebecca R. Hernandez7Rebecca R. Hernandez8Rebecca R. Hernandez9Rebecca R. Hernandez10Wild Energy Center, Energy and Efficiency Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesDepartment of Land, Air & Water Resources, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United KingdomEnergy Lancaster, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United KingdomDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesWild Energy Center, Energy and Efficiency Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesDepartment of Land, Air & Water Resources, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesWild Energy Center, Energy and Efficiency Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesDepartment of Land, Air & Water Resources, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United StatesLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United KingdomEnergy Lancaster, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United KingdomLarge, ground-mounted photovoltaic solar projects (GPVs) are expanding rapidly worldwide, driven by their essential role in climate change mitigation and the transition to a low-carbon economy. With the global market for tracking systems projected to increase annually by 32% in capacity by 2050, understanding their ecological impacts, including those from their operation and management (O&M), is critical but understudied. This study presents the first comprehensive evaluation of microclimate and vegetation mosaics within a conventional, single-axis GPV managed through regular mowing. In the state of California’s Great Central Valley (United States), we developed a novel experimental framework to characterize five distinct “micro-patches” that capture the full spectrum of microclimate and vegetation zones modulated by the tracking PV system and O&M. Over a 12-month period, we monitored nine above- and belowground microclimate variables and 16 plant ecology metrics across these micro-patches. Beneath PV panels, photosynthetically active radiation decreased by 89%, and wind speed slowed by 46%, while open spaces within the GPV footprint exhibited greater soil surface temperatures (+2.4°C) and accelerated moisture loss (+8.5%) during drought periods. Furthermore, PV panel rotation influenced shading patterns throughout the day, creating temporal variability in air temperature and vapor pressure deficit. Plant surveys identified 37 species, 86% of which were non-native. Marked differences in vegetation across micro-patches indicated that GPVs drive changes in plant community composition, structure, and productivity. Compared to open spaces, vegetation near and within the PV array footprint displayed greater species richness (+8.4%), taller maximum height (+21%), reduced coverage of sun-loving plants (−71%), and less dead biomass accumulation (−26%), from shade-driven effects. These findings suggest the consideration of micro-patch-specific maintenance strategies and nature-based solutions to control invasive, exotic plant species, conferring opportunities to enhance operational, ecological, and socioeconomic sustainability while redressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss simultaneously.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1497256/fullsolar tracking systemsingle-axis photovoltaicmicroclimatesoil temperaturesoil moisturevegetation |
| spellingShingle | Yudi Li Yudi Li Alona Armstrong Alona Armstrong Christopher Simmons Noah Z. Krasner Noah Z. Krasner Rebecca R. Hernandez Rebecca R. Hernandez Rebecca R. Hernandez Rebecca R. Hernandez Ecological impacts of single-axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetation Frontiers in Sustainability solar tracking system single-axis photovoltaic microclimate soil temperature soil moisture vegetation |
| title | Ecological impacts of single-axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetation |
| title_full | Ecological impacts of single-axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetation |
| title_fullStr | Ecological impacts of single-axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological impacts of single-axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetation |
| title_short | Ecological impacts of single-axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetation |
| title_sort | ecological impacts of single axis photovoltaic solar energy with periodic mowing on microclimate and vegetation |
| topic | solar tracking system single-axis photovoltaic microclimate soil temperature soil moisture vegetation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1497256/full |
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