Transparent solar panels tested over greenhouse crops show mixed results
Scientists grew basil, petunia, and tomato plants under transparent solar panels to test whether greenhouses could produce both crops and electricity. Basil and petunia grew well enough for commercial sale when light levels stayed above 12 moles per square meter per day, according to research published in Scientific Reports. Tomato plants fared worse, with even modest reductions in transmitted light cutting fruit yield. The key factor was how much photosynthetically active radiation passed through the panels, not which colors of light.
Farmers growing certain crops could harvest solar power from greenhouse roofs without losing crop quality, but light-hungry plants like tomatoes remain a challenge for the technology.
Source: Designing plant–transparent agrivoltaics - Scientific Reports (nature.com).
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