Presentation Details
| Evaluation of semi-transparent PV technologies on multiple crop photosynthesis for agrivoltaic applications Jesus Montes-Romero, Pedro Perez-Higueras, Florencia Almonacid, Eduardo F.Fernández. Advances in Photovoltaic Technology (AdPVTech), University of Jaen (UJA), 23071 Jaen, Spain, Jaen, Spain |
Abstract
The simultaneous increase in global food and energy consumption underscores the need for balanced solutions like agrivoltaics, which allow for dual land use. This study analyzes the performance of four semi-transparent PV modules—CdTe (50% and 20% transparency), aSi (20% transparency), and bifacial cSi (60% transparency with interspaced cells)—through experimental measurements. The cSi60 module exhibited the highest energy production, generating 130.47 kWh/m2/year. By coupling spectral transmittance with experimental photosynthetic response curves, we estimated the net photosynthetic rate (PSN) for 13 crops and seasonal Daily Light Integral (DLI). Results reveal that cSi60 and CdTe50 modules are highly compatible with agricultural needs; CdTe50 flattens extreme summer DLI peaks from 60 to 30 mol/m2/day, mitigating photoinhibition. Crop-specific assessments show that shade-tolerant species with low light saturation points, such as pea, maintain optimal photosynthetic retention (up to 95% under cSi60) across all configurations. Conversely, high-light demanding crops like peanut are severely penalized under the less transparent aSi20 and CdTe20 modules, which restrict annual photosynthesis to 26%–38% of the open-field control due to insufficient photon flux. Ultimately, this work provides a framework to select the most suitable PV technology based on specific crop light requirements.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.