Impact of flexible-support photovoltaic arrays on wind-sand movement in desert regions

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2026.00051

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (4): 321-332.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2026.00051

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Impact of flexible-support photovoltaic arrays on wind-sand movement in desert regions

Yanqiu Yang¹(), Jing Liu³, Zhongju Meng¹^,²(), Ruibing Meng¹, Jiale Cai¹, Yue Gao¹

^1.College of Desert Control Science and Engineering /, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University，Hohhot 010018，China
^2.State Key Laboratory of Water Engineering Ecology and Environment in Arid Area, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University，Hohhot 010018，China
^3.Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Areas，Ministry of Water Resources，Hohhot 010020，China

Received:2026-01-08 Revised:2026-04-10 Online:2026-07-20 Published:2026-08-27
Contact: Zhongju Meng

Abstract

Abstract:

With the vigorous promotion of the “new energy + desertification control” model， photovoltaic （PV） desertification control has been widely applied owing to its strong windbreak and sand-fixation effects and its capacity to improve soil conditions. At present， research on PV-based desertification control has mainly focused on traditional rigid mounting systems， for which ecological effects and aeolian sand regulation mechanisms have been relatively well established， whereas the aeolian sand transport characteristics associated with flexible mounting systems remain unclear. In this study， a flexible-mount PV power plant located in an area of intense aeolian activity was selected as the research object. Monitoring points were arranged at typical positions of the PV array， including the upwind side， the interior， and the downwind side. Wind speed variations and sand transport were measured using HOBO compact meteorological stations and stepwise sand traps. The results indicate that the flexible-mount PV array markedly weakens near-surface airflow. Wind speeds at all positions within the array were generally lower than those at the control site， with reductions ranging from 22% to 49%， and the degree of wind speed attenuation increased progressively from the upwind side toward the interior of the array. The installation of the array increased surface roughness and modified the vertical structure of the wind speed profile. Within the array， windbreak efficiency gradually decreased with height from 10 cm to 300 cm， but exhibited a distinct increase in the 300-400 cm layer. The aeolian sand flow regime within the PV array underwent a clear transition. Wind erosion dominated at the control site （λ = 2.128）， the upwind side of the array （λ = 1.901）， and the array interior （λ = 1.648）， whereas the aeolian sand flow structure at the downwind side of the array showed depositional characteristics （λ = 0.873）. The sand transport rate at the downwind side of the array was lower than that at other positions. Therefore， the deployment of flexible-mount PV arrays can modify airflow field distributions and effectively reduce the rate of wind erosion processes.

Key words: solar energy, flexible photovoltaic support, airflow field, wind-sand flow structure, Kubuqi Desert

CLC Number:

TM615

Yanqiu Yang, Jing Liu, Zhongju Meng, Ruibing Meng, Jiale Cai, Yue Gao. Impact of flexible-support photovoltaic arrays on wind-sand movement in desert regions[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(4): 321-332.

Figures/Tables 13

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	刚性光伏支架	柔性光伏支架
结构形式	钢结构支架＋桩基础	索系结构＋钢构件＋桩基础＋边锚
支架净空高度	常见≤2.0 m	≥4.0 m
单跨跨距（东西向）	3.0~4.0 m	10~60 m
组件倾角	沙区常见36°（固定倾角）	45°（可优化设计）
生态利用条件	农业机械通行受限，以人工维护为主	可满足大型农业机械通行与植被恢复
适用场地特点	地势平坦地段、地基条件良好	适应复杂地形条件，场地适应性强

	刚性光伏支架	柔性光伏支架
结构形式	钢结构支架＋桩基础	索系结构＋钢构件＋桩基础＋边锚
支架净空高度	常见≤2.0 m	≥4.0 m
单跨跨距（东西向）	3.0~4.0 m	10~60 m
组件倾角	沙区常见36°（固定倾角）	45°（可优化设计）
生态利用条件	农业机械通行受限，以人工维护为主	可满足大型农业机械通行与植被恢复
适用场地特点	地势平坦地段、地基条件良好	适应复杂地形条件，场地适应性强

指示风速	位置	风速廓线回归方程	粗糙度/m	摩阻速度/（m·s^-1）
7.54 m·s^-1	对照组	u=0.66ln(z)+3.55 R² =0.98	0.004	0.264
	阵列上风向	u=0.61ln(z)+3.17 R² =0.98	0.005	0.243
	阵列内部	u=0.78ln(z)+1.81 R² =0.94	0.100	0.314
	阵列下风向	u=0.75ln(z)+1.02 R² =0.95	0.256	0.300
指示风速	位置	风速廓线回归方程	粗糙度/m	摩阻速度/（m·s^-1）
9.16 m·s^-1	对照组	u=0.86ln(z)+4.13 R² =0.98	0.008	0.343
	阵列上风向	u=0.75ln(z)+3.34 R² =0.85	0.011	0.301
	阵列内部	u=0.76ln(z)+2.16 R² =0.91	0.058	0.304
	阵列下风向	u=0.79ln(z)+1.22 R² =0.96	0.213	0.315

指示风速	位置	风速廓线回归方程	粗糙度/m	摩阻速度/（m·s^-1）
7.54 m·s^-1	对照组	u=0.66ln(z)+3.55 R² =0.98	0.004	0.264
	阵列上风向	u=0.61ln(z)+3.17 R² =0.98	0.005	0.243
	阵列内部	u=0.78ln(z)+1.81 R² =0.94	0.100	0.314
	阵列下风向	u=0.75ln(z)+1.02 R² =0.95	0.256	0.300
指示风速	位置	风速廓线回归方程	粗糙度/m	摩阻速度/（m·s^-1）
9.16 m·s^-1	对照组	u=0.86ln(z)+4.13 R² =0.98	0.008	0.343
	阵列上风向	u=0.75ln(z)+3.34 R² =0.85	0.011	0.301
	阵列内部	u=0.76ln(z)+2.16 R² =0.91	0.058	0.304
	阵列下风向	u=0.79ln(z)+1.22 R² =0.96	0.213	0.315

指示风速	高度	对照组	阵列上风向	阵列内部	阵列下风向
9.16 m·s^-1	0~10 cm	0.685	0.528	0.384	0.207
	2~10 cm（上层）	0.284	0.210	0.151	0.053
	1~2 cm（中层）	0.182	0.136	0.088	0.043
	0~1 cm（下层）	0.219	0.182	0.145	0.110
	特征值λ	2.128	1.901	1.648	0.873

Impact of flexible-support photovoltaic arrays on wind-sand movement in desert regions

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