In a study, researchers have found that photovoltaic (PV) fields are more effective than afforestation in mitigating global climate change, especially in semiarid regions. The study, published in PNAS Nexus, reveals that PV fields begin benefiting from climate change mitigation in about 2.5 years, which is over fifty times faster than forests.
While forests are known for their carbon sequestration capabilities, the study highlights the efficiency of PV energy in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and its direct impact on climate change mitigation. The research was conducted by comparing the effectiveness of PV fields and afforestation, particularly focusing on their impact on surface albedo and carbon emission suppression.
The study involved measuring surface albedo at a solar field in the hyper-arid Arava valley in Israel and at the Yatir forest at the northern edge of the Negev desert. The researchers used this data to calculate the break-even time required to balance the positive radiative forcing due to reduced albedo and the negative radiative forcing due to carbon emission suppression of PV power generation or carbon sequestration by forests.
The results indicated that in semiarid land, photovoltaic fields break even and begin offering climate change mitigation benefits after about 2.5 years. In humid lands, the gap between the effectiveness of PV fields and forests is not as wide, but solar panels continue to have the advantage.
The authors of the study acknowledge that forests provide many benefits beyond climate change mitigation, including ecosystem, climate regulation, and social services. However, the findings emphasise the significant role of solar energy in the fight against global warming, especially in regions where afforestation is less effective.
This study sheds new light on the debate between the use of solar panels and planting trees as strategies for combating climate change. It underscores the importance of considering regional characteristics and the efficiency of different approaches in climate change mitigation strategies.