Ecovoltaic solar energy development effects to microclimate, temperature, and soil moisture in panel array...

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Renewable energy engineering
• Desert ecology

Background:

• Solar energy development is expanding in the southwestern US warm deserts.
• Ecovoltaics aims to balance energy generation with ecosystem preservation.
• The Solar Gemini Project utilizes novel ecovoltaics practices in the Mojave Desert.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the environmental impacts of an ecovoltaics facility on microclimate, temperature, and soil moisture.
• To compare conditions inside the Solar Gemini Project with adjacent undisturbed desert areas.
• To evaluate the influence of seasons, soil depth, and solar panel operation on environmental parameters.

Main Methods:

• Microclimate, temperature, and soil moisture were monitored from June 2023 to February 2025.
• Comparisons were made between the ecovoltaics facility and a control desert site.
• Data were collected across different seasons, soil depths, and solar panel operational states (active vs. inactive, solar-tracking vs. fixed).

Main Results:

• The facility experienced lower solar radiation, wind speed, and evaporative demand than the surrounding desert, especially when panels were actively tracking.
• Air temperatures were similar on average but showed higher daytime and lower nighttime temperatures inside the facility when active.
• Soil surface temperatures were lower during morning/evening due to shading, but overall soil temperatures (0-15 cm) were consistently higher inside the facility. Soil moisture was significantly higher within the facility.

Conclusions:

• Ecovoltaics facilities can reduce evaporative demand and increase soil moisture, potentially benefiting desert flora and fauna.
• Active solar panels can lead to increased daytime air and soil surface temperatures, alongside persistent soil warming.
• Findings provide crucial data for optimizing ecovoltaics design and management in arid environments.