A review: the potential impact of large-scale solar farms (LSSFs) on the water cycle

Abstract In renewable energy sources, wind and solar power plants are the anticipated largest benefactors to worldwide decarbonization and will be ranked as the most projected energy suppliers by 2050. Solar energy has reached new levels of affordability as a renewable energy source though they have a firm impression on the environment. The large-scale solar farms (LSSFs) cover hundreds of acres, potentially impacting the natural environmental ecohydrological processes like runoff generation and erosion. The purpose of the present paper is to appraise the present status of systematic exploration of LSSFs and their impact on the water cycle and the environment and the currently known recommendations for site management. Key findings demonstrate that LSSFs have substantial variations in hydrological cycle components in soil moisture, temperature and evaporation. Erosion reduction, strategies to control runoff and water management plans are warranted to diminish adversative impacts safeguarding sustainable amalgamation of LSSFs into the milieu.