Comprehensive ecological effect evaluation of photovoltaic stations using entropy-weighted TOPSIS

Driven by the challenges of global warming and decarbonization, the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has grown rapidly over recent decades. With abundant land resources and excellent solar radiation, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) has become as a key location for large-scale PV stations. Given its fragile and sensitive ecosystems, evaluating the ecological effects of PV construction is essential. This study established a multidimensional evaluation framework based on land surface, soil, meteorological, and vegetation indicators, and applied an entropy-weighted TOPSIS method to assess the ecological impacts of PV stations in Xinjiang. The results showed that (1) PV station significantly reduced land surface albedo and consequently lowered land surface temperature (LST). Although the reduction in albedo was greater in Bare PV areas, the cooling effect was slightly stronger in Veg PV due to vegetation-mediated regulation, with LST decreasing by 0.34 °C in Veg PV and 0.32 °C in Bare PV. (2) Both Veg PV and Bare PV exhibited similar ecological responses, with increases in evapotranspiration (ET), soil moisture (SM), and leaf area index (LAI), while the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) showed a decreasing trend. (3) Overall, the construction of PV stations has had a positive impact on the ecosystems of Xinjiang, with Veg PV exhibiting more pronounced ecological improvements. In summary, the comparative analysis between Veg PV and Bare PV highlights the regulatory role of the underlying surface in shaping ecological outcomes, further underscoring the substantial potential of Veg PV in advancing the co-development of energy security and ecological sustainability.