The long-term analysis in this study demonstrated a good capability of the numerical model to predict the shading effect inside a photovoltaic greenhouse combining the daily calculated exposed percentage with measurements of solar radiation. Photon flux daily values inside a PV greenhouse were calculated and measured from April 18th to June 8th in 2014. Commercial software was used to calculate the exposed percentage values for the greenhouse being studied. This study shows that modern software can be utilized in optimizing PV greenhouse operations.
Overall, this study demonstrated that the use of semi-transparent OPVs as a seasonal shade element for greenhouse production in a high-light region is feasible. However, a higher transmission of PAR and greater OPV device efficiency and durability could make OPV shades more economically viable, providing a desirable solution for co-located greenhouse crop production and renewable energy generation in hot and high-light intensity regions.
The PV–TEG hybrid system is widely discussed nowadays as an alternative way to maximize solar-radiation energy, which is from both light and heat. This study explains the electro-thermal effects that occur in series and parallel arrays of TEG that are exposed to non-uniform temperature gradients, and included three experiments: individual preliminary tests for thermoelectric module-type selections, series and parallel array configurations, and sampling on PV-TEG hybrid applications. The results of these experiments can be used as a tool for optimizing the design and development of components of agrisolar operations.
This guide is a compilation of energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, and resilience best practices at United States Forest Service (USFS) nurseries and seed-extractory facilities. This guide could serve as a tool for aiding agrivoltaic operations that include these types of plants and nurseries.
This study investigated the feasibility of a greenhouse roof with an integrated semi- transparent PV-blind system to provide moderate shading conditions to greenhouse crops along with simultaneous electrical energy generation. The results in this study can be used to optimize variations of agrivoltaic operations and their development in the future.
This study shows that adding semitransparent organic solar cells (ST-OSCs) to a greenhouse structure enables simultaneous plant cultivation and electricity generation, thereby reducing the greenhouse energy demand. To lower the energy footprint of greenhouses, there has been growing interest in integrating solar cells onto the greenhouse structure. In this approach, a portion of light is captured by the solar cells to generate power, while the remaining light transmits into the greenhouse for crop production. The results of this study can benefit development of agrivoltaic operations by maximizing the amount of sunlight reaching plants grown in greenhouses.
This article aims to demonstrate the viability of a greenhouse that integrates, as a novelty, semi-transparent amorphous silicon photovoltaic (PV) glass (a-Si), covering the entire roof surface and the main sides of the greenhouse.
This study introduces a novel algorithm to estimate the accumulated global radiation inside photovoltaic (PV) greenhouses at desired time intervals. These features have been considered in the design of agrivoltaic systems, which integrate energy and food production on the same land unit. The PV greenhouse achieves this goal by integrating the PV panels on the roof. This is useful especially in locations where the land resource is limited.
This study reviews and analyzes the technological and spatial design options that have become available to date implementing a rigorous, comprehensive analysis based on the most updated knowledge in the field, and proposes a thorough methodology based on design and performance parameters that enable us to define the main attributes of the system from a trans-disciplinary perspective. Agrivoltaic systems have been the subject of numerous studies due to their potential in the food–energy nexus. Demonstrative projects with new conceptual designs based on PV modules for covering open fields have shown promising results through optimizing light availability while reducing the need for irrigation and protecting from extreme weather phenomena.
This study addresses spherical micro-cells that are a semi-transparent photovoltaic (PV) technology which can contribute to improve the sustainability of greenhouse systems. The prototype STM is promising for greenhouse roof applications and its performance can be improved by increasing the conversion efficiency. Results of the study show that the balance of the light distribution for plant growth and electricity production should be designed carefully according to the nature of the light requirements of cultivated plants in the greenhouse.
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