Ignoring the Effects of Photovoltaic Array Deployment on Greenhouse Gas Emissions May Lead to Overestimation of the Contribution of Photovoltaic Power Generation to Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation is one of the world's most promising options for carbon emission reduction. However, whether the operation period of solar parks can increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in hosting natural ecosystems has not been fully considered. Here, we conducted a field experiment to compensate for the lack of evaluation of the effects of PV array deployment on GHG emissions. Our results show that the PV arrays caused significant differences in air microclimate, soil properties, and vegetation characteristics. Simultaneously, PV arrays had more significant effects on CO 2 and N 2 O emissions but a minor impact on CH 4 uptake in the growing season. Of all the environmental variables included, soil temperature and moisture were the main drivers of GHG flux variation. The sustained flux global warming potential from the PV arrays significantly increased by 8.14% compared to the ambient grassland. Our evaluation models identified that the GHG footprint of PV arrays during the operation period on grasslands was 20.62 g CO 2 -eq kW h −1 . Compared with our model estimates, GHG footprint estimates reported in previous studies were generally less by 25.46−50.76%. The contribution of PV power generation to GHG reduction may be overestimated without considering the impact of PV arrays on hosting ecosystems.

Can Solar Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Policies Reduce Carbon Emissions and Increase Income in China?

“…Notably, the manufacturing, transportation, installation, and eventual recycling of PV components are bound to result in a certain level of carbon emissions. 53 In addition, the impact of PVP power plant construction on local climate, ecosystems, and vegetation is worthy of further evaluation. Therefore, improved data availability in the future could facilitate a comprehensive assessment of socio-economic and environmental effects throughout the complete life cycle of PV panel production, transportation, installation, power generation, and recycling, thereby offering further insights into the impact of the PVPA policy on emission-reduction and poverty alleviation.…”

“…Nevertheless, this study may have overestimated the energy saving and emission-reduction potential of PVPA power plants due to the unavailability of data on the energy input of power plants and the energy consumption of PV modules. Notably, the manufacturing, transportation, installation, and eventual recycling of PV components are bound to result in a certain level of carbon emissions . In addition, the impact of PVP power plant construction on local climate, ecosystems, and vegetation is worthy of further evaluation.…”