via via University of Cambridge
Researchers have demonstrated the use of tinted, semi-transparent solar panels to generate electricity and produce nutritionally-superior crops simultaneously, bringing the prospect of higher incomes for farmers and maximising use of agricultural land.
Our calculations are a fairly conservative estimate of the overall financial value of this system. In reality if a farmer were buying electricity from the national grid to run their premises then the benefit would be much greater
Christopher Howe
By allowing farmers to diversify their portfolio, this novel system could offer financial protection from fluctuations in market prices or changes in demand, and mitigate risks associated with an unreliable climate. On a larger scale it could vastly increase capacity for solar-powered electricity generation without compromising agricultural production.
This is not the first time that crops and electricity have been produced simultaneously using semi-transparent solar panels – a technique called ‘agrivoltaics’. But in a novel adaptation, the researchers used orange-tinted panels to make best use of the wavelengths – or colours – of light that could pass through them.
The tinted solar panels absorb blue and green wavelengths to generate electricity. Orange and red wavelengths pass through, allowing plants underneath to grow. While the crop receives less than half the total amount of light it would get if grown in a standard agricultural system, the colours passing through the panels are the ones most suitable for its growth.
“For high value crops like basil, the value of the electricity generated just compensates for the loss in biomass production caused by the tinted solar panels. But when the value of the crop was lower, like spinach, there was a significant financial advantage to this novel agrivoltaic technique,” said Dr Paolo Bombelli, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Biochemistry, who led the study.
The combined value of the spinach and electricity produced using the tinted agrivoltaic system was 35% higher than growing spinach alone under normal growing conditions. By contrast, the gross financial gain for basil grown in this way was only 2.5%. The calculations used current market prices: basil sells for around five times more than spinach. The value of the electricity produced was calculated by assuming it would be sold to the Italian national grid, where the study was conducted.
“Our calculations are a fairly conservative estimate of the overall financial value of this system. In reality if a farmer were buying electricity from the national grid to run their premises then the benefit would be much greater,” said Professor Christopher Howe in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Biochemistry, who was also involved in the research.
The study found the saleable yield of basil grown under the tinted solar panels reduced by 15%, and spinach reduced by around 26%, compared to under normal growing conditions. However, the spinach roots grew far less than their stems and leaves: with less light available, the plants were putting their energy into growing their ‘biological solar panels’ to capture the light.
Laboratory analysis of the spinach and basil leaves grown under the panels revealed both had a higher concentration of protein. The researchers think the plants could be producing extra protein to boost their ability to photosynthesise under reduced light conditions. In an additional adaptation to the reduced light, longer stems produced by spinach could make harvesting easier by lifting the leaves further from the soil.
“From a farmer’s perspective, it’s beneficial if your leafy greens grow larger leaves – this is the edible part of the plant that can be sold. And as global demand for protein continues to grow, techniques that can increase the amount of protein from plant crops will also be very beneficial,” said Bombelli.
“With so many crops currently grown under transparent covers of some sort, there is no loss of land to the extra energy production using tinted solar panels,” said Dr Elinor Thompson at the University of Greenwich, and lead author of the study.
All green plants use the process of photosynthesis to convert light from the sun into chemical energy that fuels their growth. The experiments were carried out in Italy using two trial crops. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) represented a winter season crop: it can grow with fewer daylight hours and can tolerate colder weather. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) represented a summer season crop, requiring lots of light and higher temperatures.
The researchers are currently discussing further trials of the system to understand how well it would work for other crops, and how growth under predominantly red and orange light affects the crops at the molecular level.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Agrivoltaic system
- Solar sizzle or environmental fizzle? The Muddy Creek agrivoltaic conundrum
Those hills could be changing, though, taking on an entirely different shade of "green," if plans go forward for a proposed 2.5-square-mile agrivoltaic solar energy park. The Muddy Creek Energy ...
- New model estimates cultivable space at photovoltaic plants for combining agricultural and photovoltaic production
A team at the University of Cordoba has developed a methodology that defines the cultivable space between two-axis photovoltaic modules, with the aim of promoting the conversion of existing plants ...
- Catalonia sets guidelines for agrivoltaics
The government of the Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia has outlined new requirements to authorize agrivoltaic power generation on agricultural land.
- A model estimates the cultivable space at photovoltaic plants, to combine agricultural and photovoltaic production
This system entails a win-win relationship since ... installations with dual-axis trackers for their reconversion to agrivoltaic plants ...
- Best system utilities and repair software for business PCs of 2024
Over time all of this stuff has an impact on the system as the disk becomes fragmented, old registry keys get left behind, items are added to startup and more. The same applies to your business ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Agrivoltaic system
[google_news title=”” keyword=”agrivoltaic system” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Agrivoltaics
- The Renewable Energy Land Rush Could Threaten Food Security
The renewable energy transition poses significant land-use challenges, particularly with solar and wind farms competing for valuable agricultural land, threatening food security and biodiversity.
- NMSU agricultural field days kick off at Leyendecker research center May 22
New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Experiment Station is kicking off its annual field day season at the Leyendecker Plant Science Research Center May 22. Attendees will get a chance to learn ...
- European Consortium seeks to streamline agrivoltaics design
The study will also consider other factors, such as water consumption. The software will support a range of crop and PV system combinations, including an agrivoltaics mapping function, with crop and ...
- Agrivoltaics uses land for solar and agriculture simultaneously
In comes Clear Mountain Energy Center, a 565-acre solar project on the border of Williamsburg, Jackson and Batavia Townships in Clermont County. The project is working with farmers to explore how we ...
- New model estimates cultivable space at photovoltaic plants for combining agricultural and photovoltaic production
A team at the University of Cordoba has developed a methodology that defines the cultivable space between two-axis photovoltaic modules, with the aim of promoting the conversion of existing plants ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Agrivoltaics
[google_news title=”” keyword=”agrivoltaics” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]