EVALUATION OF WIND EROSION CONTROL PRACTICES AT A PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER
STATION WITHIN A SANDY AREA OF NORTHWEST, CHINA
Abstract
The widespread construction of photovoltaic (PV) power stations within
northwest China poses an environmental threat because of severe wind
erosion and land degradation attributed to unique wind control issues
caused by the power stations. In this study, various engineering (E),
plant (V), and biocrust (B) treatments were evaluated for their
effectiveness in the reduction of wind erosion. The placement of solar
panels with wide wind inlets and narrow wind outlets caused wind
velocity reductions at the inlet that sharply increased at the outlet
and formed distinct zones of deflation, direct shear abrasion (DSA), and
deposition. The engineering treatments reduced the wind velocities and
sand transport rates, in comparison to the control with E4 (DSA zone + a
gravel/deposition zone + red clay) being the most effective with an 87%
reduction in the total sand transport rate. Both plant treatments V1
(Sedum aizoon L.) and V2 (Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng)
increased the aerodynamic roughness, and decreased the sand transport
rates and the sand erosion-deposition budget under or between the solar
panels. Treatment B2 (moss crust) decreased the sand transport rate and
sand erosion-deposition budget under the solar panels in comparison to
the control. All the treatments had effects on reducing wind erosion,
and we strongly recommend the use of moss crust, gravel mulch, and red
clay mulch in the deflation zones, DSA zones, and deposition zones,
respectively, to control the severe wind erosion at these PV power
stations located in sandy areas.