Current Knowledge on Novel Semi-Arid Photovoltaic Ecosystems, Their Impacts on Biodiversity and Implications for the Sustainability of Renewable Energy Production

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. The manuscript did not describe the literature search methodology adequately and selection criteria. It is recommended to include details about the databases, keywords, and time range. This addition would improve the transparency of the review.
2. The author employed three theory to analysis. But they are isolate without any logical relationship. Consider to adopt cohesive framework. e.g. SES, DPSIR etc. A systematic framework can effectively combines human and natural dimensions and allows for a systematic categorization of the issues addressed.
3. No figure. The manuscript describe various ecological factors and their interactions. Graphical representations can provide more intuitive understanding for the complex relationships.
4. Need add practical cases. The manuscript lack case studies and quantitative data. PVP disturb ecology has been widely researched, relevant case studies can provide quantitative evidence and strengthen the theoretical arguments.
5. Refinement of restoration and management strategies.  The discussion on restoration and management strategies remains rather broad and should be further detailed. Given that natural conditions, engineering constraints, and applicable scopes vary, it is important to propose improvements or alternative approaches. Comparing current management practices with potential new strategies would enhance the feasibility and practical relevance of the recommendations.

Author Response

1. The manuscript did not describe the literature search methodology adequately and selection criteria. It is recommended to include details about the databases, keywords, and time range. This addition would improve the transparency of the review.

Thank you for the suggestion. We have included a new methods section (Section 2) where the bibliographic search is described.

2.  The author employed three theory to analysis. But they are isolate without any logical relationship. Consider to adopt cohesive framework. e.g. SES, DPSIR etc. A systematic framework can effectively combines human and natural dimensions and allows for a systematic categorization of the issues addressed.

Thank you for the suggestion. According to the reviewer's suggestion, we have incorporated the DPSIR framework (L. 131-139) and have structured the manuscript accordingly to enhance our discussion.

3. No figure. The manuscript describe various ecological factors and their interactions. Graphical representations can provide more intuitive understanding for the complex relationships.

According to this suggestion, we have included three new figures that graphically summarizes the impacts of PVPs on semiarid habitats and biodiversity.

4. Need add practical cases. The manuscript lack case studies and quantitative data. PVP disturb ecology has been widely researched, relevant case studies can provide quantitative evidence and strengthen the theoretical arguments.

Thank you for the comment. We have added some examples that support the effects of PVPs described in the article (L. 412-421, L.431-435). However, as this is a review article based on already published studies, we refer the reader to the bibliographic references for the details of each case study. Similarly, in the section on restoration, we have included several references to recent reviews on dryland restoration.

5. Refinement of restoration and management strategies. The discussion on restoration and management strategies remains rather broad and should be further detailed. Given that natural conditions, engineering constraints, and applicable scopes vary, it is important to propose improvements or alternative approaches. Comparing current management practices with potential new strategies would enhance the feasibility and practical relevance of the recommendations.

We have improved the section concerning the restoration of PVPs by incorporating a description of innovative techniques in dryland restoration that are compatible with PVP management (L. 680-718). Recent references to the latest articles and reviews on dryland restoration have now been included in this section, which may be valuable for practitioners consulting this article.

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

The reviewed paper entitled Current knowledge on the novel semiarid photovoltaic ecosystems and their impacts on biodiversity, implications for sustainability of renewable energy production writen by Esperanza C. Iranzo, José Manuel Nicolau, Ramón Reiné and Jaume Tormo

The paper is focused on a very interesting and crucial environmental related to the impact of photovoltaic large-area installation.

This paper reviews the current knowledge on the impact of PVP on arid and semiarid ecosystems and characterized the structure and some selected functioning parameters of the novel ecosystem under the photovoltaic installation, including changes in vegetation, microclinematic conditions, soil quality, and biodiversity, and shows how these factors hinder the full recovery of ecosystems in the PVP. The Authors ask a very important question if it is justified to sacrifice biodiversity for so-called clean energy production. The Authors address very important and crucial question about the limitations and challenges of restoring ecosystems within PVP and suggest the use of modern ecological restoration techniques and the incorporation of grazing with rational planning. The Authors underlined that in the case of solar energy there is also a conflict between the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDG 7, SDG 13 and SDG 15. The coordinated spatial planning of renewable energy expansion and biodiversity conservation is essential to avoid compromising the success in reaching these objectives.  

The paper give some insights how to make compatible solar energy production and biodiversity conservation in order to reach a sustainable deployment of PVPs. The paper is divided into some parts. One of them is presenting the main impacts associated with the different stages of construction of PVPs, from the manufacturing of the panels to the end of their useful life. Another one is focused on the general impacts of PVPs on the environment and arid ecosystems described in the literature. Some aspects of the functioning of the novel photovoltaic ecosystem atrnd characterised including the changes on soil, flora and fauna are addressed. At the end the limitations are identified and knowledge gaps in the study of PVP impacts, and proposes future steps for research in PVPs novel ecosystem are identified. The last part presents some proposals for PVP restoration in semi-arid ecosystems to minimize negative impacts.  

More research is needed to fully understand the long-term impacts and interactions of PVP with the environment, the evolution of the novel ecosystems in the PVP and the restoration techniques needed to achieve the long-term sustainability of these infrastructures

I strongly recommend the publication of this paper.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your kind words. We have incorporated minor changes and new figures into the manuscript in accordance with the suggestions provided by the other reviewer and the editor, which we believe have contributed to improving the quality of the work.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author's response has addressed all the issues.

Author Response

Thank you very much for your time and help to improve the manuscript