Impact of Photovoltaic Industry Development on Grassland Ecosystems

As the global demand for renewable energy increases, the photovoltaic industry has developed rapidly. However, its large-scale construction in grassland ecosystems has caused potential threats to the ecological balance. Current problems include land use changes, reduced vegetation cover, and decreased biodiversity. This study conducts a field survey around a photovoltaic power station in Central Mongolia in a typical grassland area. Sample plots are set up to collect data on vegetation coverage, soil moisture, species diversity, etc., and high-resolution images are obtained by drone aerial photography. Secondly, remote sensing image data for 10 years before and after the construction of the photovoltaic power station are collected. Land use classification and change detection are carried out using ENVI and ArcGIS software, and key parameters such as vegetation index and soil moisture index are extracted. Then, meteorological data and the ecological model InVEST are combined to simulate the impact of photovoltaic power station construction on grassland ecosystem service functions. Finally, statistical analysis and spatial overlay methods are used to quantify the comprehensive impact of the photovoltaic industry on grassland ecosystems. The results show that the construction of photovoltaic power stations has led to an average decrease of 62.2% in vegetation coverage, a 27% decrease in the lowest value of soil moisture in the construction area, and a 70.8% decrease in species diversity index. The development of the photovoltaic industry has a significant negative impact on the grassland ecosystem, and ecological protection measures need to be taken in planning and construction to achieve a balance between renewable energy development and ecological protection.