Assessing Environmental Vulnerability of Renewable Energy Infrastructure to Dust Storm Hazards in Arid Regions: A Case Study of Iran

Key Points

• The study aims to identify regions where high renewable energy potential coincides with elevated dust storm hazards in Iran.
• Developed a spatial framework to assess dust storm-related risks to renewable energy infrastructure.
• Integrated key spatial criteria, including energy potential, climate, accessibility, and economics.
• Combined energy potential and dust hazard layers to generate national risk maps.
• 37% of Iran is categorized under high to very high dust risk for renewable energy.
• High solar potential is found in central and southern Iran, while high wind potential is in low-dust northwest and northeast regions.
• Current renewable energy infrastructure predominantly aligns with lower-risk zones, with 39% of solar plants in low-risk areas.