Characterization of Agrivoltaic Crop Environment Conditions Using Opaque and Thin-Film Semi-Transparent Modules

Mark Uchanski (), Thomas Hickey, Jennifer Bousselot and Kurt L. Barth
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Mark Uchanski: Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Thomas Hickey: Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Jennifer Bousselot: Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Kurt L. Barth: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: Agrivoltaics (APV), the co-location of agriculture and photovoltaics (PV), addresses an inherent competition for land usage. Taking the same dual-use concept to the urban landscape, rooftop APV can provide locally grown food in areas of need while providing distributed energy generation. In this multi-year investigation, different APV plots in northern Colorado, USA, were studied for crop metrics, light transmission, air temperature, soil/substrate temperature and moisture. Crops were grown under different solar panel types including opaque silicon and opaque and semi-transparent (ST) thin-film CdTe technologies. Growth conditions were characterized showing generally improved conditions and moderated temperatures under the panels. The ST-CdTe panels had increased photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) compared to both opaque panel types without a significant corresponding increase in temperature.

Keywords: agrivoltaics; solar; agriculture; CdTe; thin-film; green roofs; semi-transparent PV; photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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