The construction and operation of photovoltaic (PV) power stations alter the physical properties of the underlying surface, thereby changing surface energy distribution. This study used observational data from inside and outside a utility-scale PV power station in Gobi Desert to analyze PV power stations’ impacts on upward long-wave radiation. The study finds that the difference in upward long-wave radiation between the inside and outside of the PV power station is influenced by numerous factors. The relatively low surface temperature in the open areas between PV arrays is the primary reason for the significantly lower daytime upward long-wave radiation inside the PV power station compared to that of the natural Gobi Desert. The difference in soil thermal conductivity between the inside and outside of the PV power station is the main factor leading to the lower surface temperature inside the station. Additionally, a computational model, PV3R, was developed to calculate the upward long-wave radiation from PV power stations. The verification results indicate that the model can accurately calculate the upward long-wave radiation from the surface of PV power stations. The development of this model is significantly importance for the advancement of land-surface process models for PV power stations.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123993