China has been expanding the installed capacity of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power bases across its desert, Gobi, and desertified (“Sha‒Ge‒Huang”) regions. However, a large proportion of wind and photovoltaic power generation equipment deployed in these areas has been exposed to prolonged extreme environmental conditions, including high temperatures, severe sand and wind erosion, and substantial diurnal temperature fluctuations, and is gradually entering a large-scale decommissioning phase. Owing to the distinctive regional characteristics, such as vast geographical coverage, highly dispersed power stations, severe water scarcity, and fragile ecosystems, conventional centralized recycling approaches are difficult to adapt to these scenarios. Therefore, the establishment of an integrated full-chain closed-loop recycling system coupled with a sustainable long-term operation mechanism is urgently required. This study examines the recycling value of decommissioned wind and photovoltaic power generation equipment and reviews recent advances in this field, including practical applications of circular utilization pathways, development of industrial and regional circular economy models, and improvement in regulatory frameworks supporting circular economy implementation. Based on an overview of the deployment and development status of wind and photovoltaic power facilities in China's Sha‒Ge‒Huang regions, the operational characteristics of renewable energy equipment under these harsh environmental conditions are summarized from the perspectives of key failure mechanisms in photovoltaic components and critical degradation mechanisms in wind power systems. Furthermore, by integrating the dismantling characteristics of decommissioned wind and photovoltaic equipment with a circular economy perspective, the major challenges associated with equipment recycling in Sha‒Ge‒Huang regions are identified. Considering the core principles of the circular economy, namely reduction, reuse, and resource recovery, and addressing the unique environmental constraints of Sha‒Ge‒Huang regions, this study proposes a comprehensive technological framework for the recycling of decommissioned wind and photovoltaic power generation equipment. The proposed framework incorporates several key technologies, including environment-adapted pretreatment technologies specifically designed for desert conditions, advanced separation and purification technologies for high-value resource recovery, dismantling and lightweight recycling technologies for large-scale wind turbine systems, harmless treatment technologies for retired hazardous auxiliary materials, and localized collaborative utilization technologies for recycled materials. To facilitate the sustainable development of renewable energy recycling in Sha‒Ge‒Huang regions, it is recommended to strengthen scientific and technological innovation in key recycling technologies, establish differentiated policies and technical standards tailored to regional characteristics, and promote industrial deployment. These efforts will contribute to the development of a comprehensive circular implementation pathway that simultaneously supports economic benefits and long-term desert ecosystem security.