The　combination　of　photovoltaic　and　greenery　(PVG　system)　has　received　increasing　attention　in　the　city.　However,　the　characteristic　of　thermal　behavior　for　PVG　system　has　not　been　fully　revealed.　Therefore,　a　field　experiment　was　carried　out　to　compare　the　local　microclimate　between　PVG　system　and　a　lawn.　And　the　results　show　that　PV　array　cooled　the　below　vegetation　up　to　2.5　°C　in　the　daytime,　but　warmed　the　vegetation　up　to　0.7　°C　at　night.　Energy　balance　analysis　shows　that,　under　the　effect　of　PV　shading,　evapotranspiration　consumed　about　43.8　%　of　the　total　heat　gain,　and　followed　by　longwave　radiation　(29.5　%)　and　heat　convection　(26.7　%).　A　numerical　model　considering　the　multiple　thermal　interactions　between　vegetation　and　PV　modules　was　developed　and　validated　by　the　measured　data.　Based　on　the　parametric　analysis,　it＇s　found　that　higher　plant　species　is　preferred　for　PVG　system,　which　has　a　greater　cooling　effect　than　the　lawn.　And　a　scenario　simulation　shows　that,　among　the　four　factors　usually　neglected　in　the　existing　heat　transfer　model　of　PVG　system,　longwave　radiation　leads　to　the　most　significant　error.　The　conclusions　drawn　herein　could　provide　reference　for　the　design　optimization　and　energy　performance　prediction　of　PVG　system.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd