Assessment of site suitability for centralized photovoltaic power stations in Northwest China's six provinces

Northwest China has abundant solar energy resources and extensive land, making it a pivotal site for solar energy development. However, restrictions on site selection and severe weather conditions have hindered the establishment and operation of photovoltaic (PV) power stations. Previous studies have not considered meteorological factors when evaluating site suitability, leading to research gaps in identifying suitable areas and establishing indicator systems. We aimed to address these gaps by considering seven factors constraining the construction of centralized PV power stations (CPPS) and developing an indicator system based on terrain, climate, soil, and economic factors. Furthermore, we conducted analyses to quantify the solar energy generation potential (SEGP), carbon emissions reduction benefits, and land utilization potential at different sites. The findings indicate that areas rated as very suitable and extremely suitable comprised the largest proportion (62.35%) of site suitability. The correlation between site suitability and electricity consumption was largely non-significant, highlighting the need for enhanced coordination. Additionally, we forecast the electricity consumption in Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Shaanxi for 2030 to be 56.62, 19.86, 54.54, 13.59, 15.96, and 33.34 ( × 10¹¹ kWh), respectively, with corresponding carbon emissions reduction potentials of 20.2, 7.1, 19.4, 4.8, 5.7, and 11.9 ( × 10⁹ kg). Consequently, PV carbon reduction and land utilization potential are substantial.