Land suitability and environmental benefit assessment for wind–solar integrated development: A case study of Inner Mongolia, China

Hybrid wind-solar power generation (HWSG) plays a significant role in energy conservation and environmental protection while also holding broad application prospects. A rational spatial layout and appropriate development intensity can not only maximize the utilization of wind and solar resources and generate considerable environmental benefits, but also mitigate potential conflicts with ecological conservation and human settlements. Taking Inner Mongolia, China as a case study, this research constructs an indicator system to evaluate the land suitability of HWSG, with habitat quality and land use types adopted as constraint conditions, and then assesses the power generation potential and emission reduction benefits under different development scenarios. The results show that 54.08 % of the land in Inner Mongolia is conducive to wind and solar energy development, with 11.99 % and 10.39 % of the study area classified as "particularly suitable" for wind and solar energy, respectively. Furthermore, 5.53 % of the land is deemed "particularly suitable" for HWSG, and this area includes the northeast and northwest of Alxa League. If 100 % of the "particularly suitable" area is developed, the annual electricity generation will be about 9584.59 TWh, and CO₂ emissions will be reduced by 7888.118 Mt, as well as emissions of a significant amount of major air pollutants. This study provides a scientific basis for the siting and investment of hybrid wind-solar projects, as well as significant support for the promotion of regional green transformation.