The world’s scorching deserts are generally thought of as unforgiving environments, but the sizable, sun-exposed landscapes have proven suitable locations for vast solar parks. The unexpected result? Shade-bearing solar panels appear to be changing ecosystems.

Deserts are among the Earth’s major ecosystems. They cover more than 20 percent of the Earth’s surface and are home to plants and animals that have adapted to the harsh environment. Almost 7,000 species, like the scavenging brown hyena that gets its water almost exclusively from prey and fruits, are found there.

But the harsh environment the hyena calls home might be in for a little reprieve.

A new study from Xi’an University of Technology shows that solar panels that provide constant shade may be responsible for renewed and enhanced desert ecosystems.

The environmental impact of solar panels may be two-fold: They produce renewable energy and life-sustaining conditions.

The panels offer constant shade, which assists in moisture retention, lowers soil temperatures and, ultimately, reduces evaporation.

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CAPTION: Solar Innovation Centre, Dubai, UAE IMAGE: Shutterstock

The research suggests these small alterations could allow vegetation to flourish and support microorganism growth that is imperative for soil health. The research study in China’s Qinghai Gonghe Photovoltaic Park used the DPSIR model. The model is typically tapped to measure environmental problems but was used here to develop a system for evaluating the positive impact of the panels. The results suggested that the solar panels were actually restoring the desert soil.

Measuring 57 environmental indicators, including soil composition, temperature, biodiversity and humidity, the research team assessed the area underneath the panels as having general good ecological health. This area scored almost double the health rate of the surrounding desert.

“The index system constructed in this study helps to clarify the changes in the driving forces, pressures, states, impacts and responses of desert photovoltaic power plants and their comprehensive relationships. The use of different levels of indicators is an effective method for examining integrated environmental decision-making and can help managers make improved decisions,” the team says.

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