Monitoring and assessment of sand encroachment near Sakala solar farm – Results from field observations

This study investigated wind erosion and soil particle distribution at the Sakaka Solar Power Plant in Saudi Arabia, assessing the potential impacts on solar panel efficiency and site management.Soil samples from various locations within the site were analyzed using a sieve-based approach and log-normal function fitting to characterize particle size distributions.The analysis revealed two consistent size modes across all samples: a primary mode centered around 524 m and a secondary mode at approximately 168 m, with an additional fine sand population around 100 m.Wind erosion and soiling events were monitored using big spring number eight (BSNE) sediment samplers strategically placed around the site.Results showed significant spatial and temporal variations in sediment fluxes, with the highest rates observed in the West (149.05kg/m), Southwest (47.14 kg/m), and Northwest (9.42 kg/m) sectors.The total drift during the study period was 205.61 kg/m, with 66% of the annual total occurring between May and August, aligning with the region's known wind patterns.Detailed analysis of erosion events revealed that the western quadrant of the site consistently experienced the highest erosion fluxes, up to 13 times greater than those in the southern quadrant during peak events.The effectiveness of existing erosion control measures, such as a sand ridge 180 meters upwind of the western boundary, was found to be limited, reducing sand flux by only 58% at the nearest monitoring station.These findings highlight the critical need for targeted erosion mitigation strategies, particularly along the western perimeter of the solar plant.The study underscores the importance of considering soil texture and local wind patterns in the assessment and management of wind erosion risks at solar power installations in arid environments.