Climate effects of photovoltaic power plant in desert based on the WRF Model

The rapid expansion of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants in arid regions is an important strategy for global carbon neutrality. Extensive PV coverage also fundamentally alters land surface properties and induces feedback to the regional climate. However, the climate responses to different deployment scales remain insufficiently quantified for desert environments. This study utilizes the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled with a PV parameterization scheme. We simulate the climate effects of PV deployment in the Kubuqi Desert, China. Four scenarios were simulated including a baseline without PV, the current actual deployment, two future projections based on energy policies. And we assess impacts on temperature, wind speed, atmospheric moisture, and surface energy balance. The results reveal a scale-dependent photovoltaic heat island effect. As the deployment scale expands, a distinct daytime heat island effect intensifies due to reduced albedo and enhanced sensible heat flux, with the 2 m air temperature increasing by up to 0.40°C in the maximum scenario. The nighttime temperature exhibited warming (+0.11°C) in winter, in contrast to slight cooling in summer. Furthermore, the physical structure of PV arrays creates a strong aerodynamic drag. This reduces 10 m wind speed by over 1.0 m·s^-1 in PV area. Additionally, the interaction between surface warming and wind reduction generates a heat-moisture coupling pump. This mechanism promotes vertical mixing and increases mid-tropospheric water vapor (600–800 hPa). These findings explain the complex interactions of desert PV plants and regional climate, providing scientific support for the sustainable planning of renewable energy bases in desert regions.