Photovoltaic “forest” outperforms afforestation as climate-change mitigation strategy in dry regions
- 304350
Poster
Abstract
Both forests and photovoltaic (PV) fields have significant potential for mitigating climate change, especially in dry regions where land is available. Both approaches can contribute through carbon uptake by photosynthesis or substituting emissions in energy production. However, both also increase global heat load by reducing surface albedo and impact the planetary boundary layer through modification of both the radiative and non-radiative surface-atmosphere energy fluxes. In a comparative study of PV fields and pine forest plantations in a dry environment, we quantified the climate-change mitigation potential of both approaches, considering reduced atmospheric carbon, surface energy balance, and land area required to lower carbon emissions across different climatic zones. The results show that in drylands, PV fields are >50 more efficient than afforestation. In more humid climates, the advantage of afforestation increases but demands more land than is available. While this analysis focused on the radiative forcing perspective, indicating an advantage for the PV strategy, both approaches must be used in a complementary way to ensure other forests’ ecosystems and social services.
Programme
Track
- 4-Measuring and modelling carbon on land
Keywords
Land-based mitigation technologies
Solar Photovoltaics
albedo
afforestation
radiation/turbulent fluxes
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