Fire hazard associated with different types of photovoltaic power plants: Effect of vegetation management

Abstract

Synanthropic vegetation occurs at sites of photovoltaic power plants, where vegetation management is typically ignored, and can have adverse effects on photovoltaic panels as they increase fire hazards. Most scientific papers related to the installation and operation of solar power plants do not address the impact of photovoltaic power plants on vegetation and the associated fire hazards; grasslands, where photovoltaic power plants are usually located, have abundant grass that is highly flammable. This study was conducted in the South Moravian region of the Czech Republic to monitor and quantify the occurrence of plant species at sites where two different types of photovoltaic panels were installed. It was hypothesized that different types of photovoltaic panels are associated with different types of vegetation. Vegetation was assessed using phytocoenological relevés. The vegetation was controlled by grazing sheep and mowing around photovoltaic panels. The results of this study indicated that stationary photovoltaic panels create favourable conditions for species that increase fire hazards. Fire hazards can be reduced using grazing or mowing and removal of biomass. Using rotating photovoltaic panels, combined with sheep grazing, is more effective for promoting vegetation that reduces the chances of fire. This study highlights that photovoltaic power plants represent a renewable and sustainable energy source; however, different types of photovoltaic panels are associated with different vegetation types. To eliminate fire hazards, it is necessary to employ suitable methods of vegetation management (e.g., grazing by animals). Furthermore, combining an appropriate method of vegetation management with rotating photovoltaic panels will further reduce fire hazards.