The ecological and social benefits of desert photovoltaics: A case study of the Kubuqi Desert

This study examines the correlation between desert photovoltaic (PV) development and ecological sustainability by establishing an integrated ecological-social assessment framework. We combined Markov-PLUS model, InVEST model and the social media-weighted travel cost method to quantify the eco-system services(ESV), which includes water yield, soil conservation, and carbon storage, and the social services (SSV), which includes cultural services social, economic services and technical services of Desert Photovoltaics in the Kubuqi Desert in 2020, 2023, and 2030. At the early construction stage, the system exhibits a trade-off in which improvements in carbon storage and soil conservation are accompanied by a suppression of annual water yield, which leads to a temporary decline of ESV. Under the ecological protection scenario in 2030, as the vegetation structure remains stable and PV arrays cumulatively decrease surface evaporation and promote soil water infiltration, the aggregate ESV and SSV both rebound. The aggregate benefits increase from approximately $344 million in 2020 to $462 million in 2030, indicating a steady upward trend. This study provides a new perspective to assess the benefits of the Desert Photovoltaics, and enhance replicability of the “PV + ecological restoration” approach in arid regions, and also support the integrated renewable-energy siting and ecological management.