Renewable energy infrastructure in desert-gobi-arid zones: A review of physical-ecological transformations and ecosystem resilience

Desert-Gobi-Arid (DGA) zones are key regions for large-scale photovoltaic and wind-energy development and represent fragile dryland ecosystems with strong water limitation and slow ecological recovery. This paper critically reviews the ecological impacts of renewable-energy infrastructure in DGA-type landscapes, using China’s DGA bases as the main empirical context and evidence from ecologically comparable drylands for comparison. It examines how photovoltaic and wind facilities affect surface environments, ecological processes, and carbon cycling. Existing studies indicate that these facilities influence local microclimate, soil conditions, vegetation dynamics, and carbon exchange through shading, surface disturbance, airflow alteration, and hydrothermal redistribution. These impacts are site- and scale-dependent and are jointly controlled by facility layout, disturbance intensity, surface substrate, vegetation background, climate conditions, and management practices. Under low-disturbance design and effective management, they may support soil moisture retention, vegetation recovery, soil carbon accumulation, and ecosystem resilience, while higher disturbance may increase ecological risks such as water stress and habitat fragmentation. This review links direct emission reductions with indirect ecological effects and governance considerations and provides a case-based reference for assessing renewable-energy development in fragile dryland environments.