The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is a key region for photovoltaic (PV) development in China, where large-scale PV construction inevitably impacts the ecological environment. Current research largely overlooks two key issues: undetected small-scale PV facilities and the timing of PV panel installation in regions with phased construction. Moreover, existing studies on PVvegetation impacts across climate zones routinely employ coarse resolution climatic classifications (particularly dry and wet zoning) without adequate refinement. It is necessary to accurately map all PV facilities and quantify the differential impacts of PV panels on vegetation dynamics and drought adaptability across refined dry and wet gradients. This study integrated Random Forest (RF) and Continuous Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) algorithms to accurately identify PV panels and determine their construction time. Using the Arid Index (AI) for precise dry and wet zones, we analyzed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), resistance and resilience metrics to uncover the differential impacts of PV panels across dry and wet gradient and their regional effects on vegetation drought adaptation in the QTP from 2008 to 2023. We employed a "space-for-time substitution" approach to compare changes in vegetation conditions before and after PV installation within different climate zones. Additionally, we compared the changes observed under the PV panels with those occurring simultaneously in the surrounding unaffected vegetation. Results show clear ecological effects across dry and wet gradient: in arid zones, PV panels increase NDVI through shading, but simplified community structures decrease vegetation resistance/resilience, intensifying drought stress risks. Semi-arid and semi-humid zones face greater NDVI decline risks due to photosynthetic inhibition, although better hydrothermal conditions enhance vegetation resistance/resilience. Precipitation largely determines NDVI spatial patterns, while elevation and land surface temperature are key factors governing vegetation resistance/resilience. PV panels' hydrothermal regulation reduces the impact of all these factors. These findings offer a scientific basis for tailored PV development strategies, emphasizing the need for coordinated renewable energy and ecological security management.