Change photovoltaic site

Site selection for the utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar farm is a critical issue due to its direct impact on the power performance, economic, environmental, social aspects, and existing as well as future infrastructures. In this chapter, we conduct a literature review on site selection of solar PV power plants.

Aside from the costs of infrastructure and grid integration, the location of large-scale photovoltaic power plants must address the contemporary issue of land fragmentation. Given their significant scale, these power plants require expansive and contiguous land for development.

Land use policy for developing PV solar farms in China. Different from most developed countries, in China, urban lands are owned by the country, and rural lands are collective ownership. For this reason, the development of PV solar farms highly relies on the land use policy introduced by the government.

The results of this study indicated that China, as one of the fast-growing countries in the global south, shows outstanding potential for solar PV power station installation and generation potential.

Second, conduct in-depth cost-benefit assessments before embarking on large-scale solar PV projects. Prioritize the evaluation of infrastructure prerequisites, and cost control measures, and explore incentives, subsidies, and sustainable financing options to attract investments while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Using unused lands such as Gobi, desert and wasteland to build PV plants can reduce the construction cost of photovoltaic projects and improve the economy. At the same time, it plays a positive role in improving local ecology and developing industries.