Abstract:

This study evaluates the impact of photovoltaic (PV) power plants on land surface temperature (LST) using remote sensing techniques in Asian regions. The main goal is to assess the environmental effects of these power plants. Satellite infrared thermal images from the MODIS sensor for 2003 and 2023 were used to analyze temperature changes in large PV plants. Results show that PV plants significantly reduced the average daily LST. The cooling effect was 0.81°C during the day and 0.24°C at night. The cooling rate depends on the plant's capacity: -0.32°C for the daily average, -0.48°C for daytime, and -0.14°C for nighttime per terawatt-hour. Nighttime cooling correlates with geographic factors such as latitude, elevation, annual average temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation. This indicates that temperature effects depend on regional conditions, climate, and vegetation. Statistical analysis from 2016 to 2024 in Asian countries like Tajikistan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan shows an increase in average 2-meter temperature (up to 6.27°C in Tajikistan). However, decreases were observed in Kazakhstan and Pakistan (up to 3.92°C). Global horizontal irradiation (GHI) increased in some areas but decreased in others, such as Aksai, China. These findings highlight the importance of remote sensing for sustainable energy management.