Optimized Combined Layout of Sand Barriers for Photovoltaic Power Stations Based on Wind and Sand Control Performance

As the new energy strategy progresses, desert, Gobi, and wasteland areas have become key areas for photovoltaic (PV) development, inevitably bringing new environmental challenges. Although PV power stations act as obstacles with some wind and sand control effects, aeolian erosion remains a problem, especially in localized areas where erosion intensifies. To address this issue, this study uses the PV power station layout in the semi-arid wind and sand region of Yudaokou, Hebei, as a case study. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulations, a combined layout of PV panels and sand barriers is proposed. It is first assumed that this combined layout improves wind protection compared to photovoltaic arrays. The impact of different sand barrier configurations on the airflow field is analyzed to explore their role in controlling aeolian erosion. By analyzing the airflow field, areas of intensified and potentially intensified aeolian erosion are identified. Based on this, sand barriers are strategically placed in key protective zones on the windward side of the PV array, and the combined layout of PV panels and sand barriers is optimized to improve aeolian erosion control effectiveness and promote the sustainable development of PV power stations. The results indicate that PV panels significantly reduce wind speed by altering local airflow and flow patterns, with the impact primarily concentrated in the first 3 to 4 rows on the windward side of the PV array. By establishing sand barriers beneath the PV panels on the windward side, aeolian erosion can be effectively reduced, with the effect on the airflow field primarily occurring within the 0–0.3 m height above the ground. Continuously establishing sand barriers up to the third row of PV panels effectively reduces wind speed, with further extension not significantly improving wind protection, indicating that the third row of PV panels serves as the critical point for sand barrier establishment. This configuration provides the ideal layout for achieving effective protection and offers theoretical and practical guidance for improving the layout of combined PV power stations. Comprehensive analysis suggests that the optimized configuration of PV arrays and sand barrier layout effectively controls aeolian erosion, with the Model 3, which places sand barriers up to the third row of PV panels, ensuring efficient resource utilization. This study offers a practical approach to reducing damage from wind and sand by optimizing the layout of sand barriers and PV panels, thereby providing important guidance for the sustainable development of PV power stations in arid areas.