Articles | Volume 19, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-8515-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-8515-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Simulating the impacts of utility-scale photovoltaic installations with a physically based coupled WRF-PV model
Yiran Chen
State Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Jiming Jin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, Hubei Province, China
Yimin Liu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
State Key Laboratory of Earth System Numerical Modeling and Application, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Jannik Heusinger
Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig 38106, Germany
Jesús Carrera
Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Zeyu Zhou
College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, Hubei Province, China
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Short summary
Solar power plants are expanding rapidly worldwide, but their impacts on local climate remain uncertain. In this study, we developed a coupled model that explicitly represents interactions between solar panels, land surface, and the atmosphere. Evaluation against satellite observations showed improved simulation of land surface temperature over solar farms. Simulations show that solar farms can cool the land surface, warm near-surface air, reduce incoming sunlight, and alter rainfall patterns.
Solar power plants are expanding rapidly worldwide, but their impacts on local climate remain...