Why aren't all deserts covered in solar panels?

Solar panels don’t just generate electricity. New research suggests that large, ground-mounted solar farms can alter soil moisture, temperature, vegetation, and even carbon storage, particularly in arid and desert regions. Not all deserts are the same though. Large solar developments in the wrong region can still damage fragile ecosystems if poorly designed. So, the key question is not whether solar PV changes landscapes. They do. It’s how intelligently we design those systems to benefit local biodiversity as we scale up clean energy. Help support this channel's independence at http://www.patreon.com/justhaveathink Or with a donation via Paypal by clicking here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GWR73EHXGJMAE&source=url You can also help keep my brain ticking over during the long hours of research and editing via the nice folks at BuyMeACoffee.com https://www.buymeacoffee.com/justhaveathink Hoodie Giveaway – Terms & Conditions Promoter This giveaway is run by the creator of the Just Have a Think YouTube channel. Eligibility Open to viewers aged 18 or over. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. How to Enter To enter, leave a comment on the relevant YouTube video(s) during the giveaway period. One entry per person per video. Giveaway Period Entries must be submitted before the channel reaches 700,000 subscribers. Prize Ten (10) hoodie tops will be given away. No cash alternative. Prizes are non-transferable. Winner Selection Winners will be randomly selected from eligible comments. Winner Notification Winners will be contacted via a reply to their YouTube comment. Winners must respond within 7 days or a new winner may be selected. Delivery Hoodies will be shipped to the winners’ provided addresses. Shipping is included unless otherwise stated. Any import duties or taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Data Use Any personal information provided will be used only to administer the giveaway and deliver the prize, and will not be shared or retained afterward. YouTube Disclaimer This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by YouTube, nor associated with YouTube in any way. General The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway if circumstances beyond their control require it. Reference Links Futura Article on positive benefits of desert solar https://www.futura-sciences.com/en/they-thought-they-were-just-producing-energy-but-the-solar-panels-awakened-the-desert_22223/ A global assessment of the effects of solar farms on albedo, vegetation, and land surface temperature using remote sensing https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X23008320 Potential benefits and risks of solar photovoltaic power plants on arid and semi-arid ecosystems: an assessment of soil microbial and plant communities https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10427150/pdf/fmicb-14-1190650.pdf Cacti and Other Iconic Desert Plants Threatened by Solar Development https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/cacti-and-other-iconic-desert-plants-threatened-solar-development An observational study on the microclimate and soil thermal regimes under solar photovoltaic arrays https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0038092X23007934 AGU - Impacts of Large-Scale Sahara Solar Farms on Global Climate and Vegetation Cover https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1029/2020GL090789 PubMed Central - Potential benefits and risks of solar photovoltaic power plants on arid and semi-arid ecosystems: an assessment of soil microbial and plant communities https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10427150/ Impacts of photovoltaic solar energy on soil carbon: A global systematic review and framework https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032124007585 Global Solar Map https://globalsolaratlas.info Additional article of interest https://www.ecoticias.com/en/on-the-tibetan-plateau-china-has-installed-a-16-17-gw-mega-solar-plant-that-is-turning-an-alpine-desert-into-a-micro-oasis-more-moisture-more-grass-and-soils-with-more-carbon-und/26117/ Check out other YouTube Climate Communicators Simon Clark: youtube.com/user/SimonOxfPhys ClimateTown: youtube.com/channel/UCuVLG9pThvBABcYCm7pkNkA Dr Gilbz youtube.com/@DrGilbz zentouro: youtube.com/user/zentouro Climate Adam: youtube.com/user/ClimateAdam Kurtis Baute: youtube.com/user/ScopeofScience Sarah Karvner: youtube.com/channel/UCRwMkTu8sCwOOD6_7QYrZnw Beckisphere: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT39HQq5eDKonaUV8ujiBCQ Our Changing Climate : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNXvxXpDJXp-mZu3pFMzYHQ