Spectral Selectivity and Microclimatic Buffering of Semi-Transparent Photovoltaics in Greenhouses: A Comparative Analysis of CdTe and a-Si Technologies for Agrivoltaic Applications

Abstract

Integrating semi-transparent photovoltaics (STPVs) into greenhouses offers a dual-use solution for land efficiency, although matching electricity generation with crop spectral needs remains a challenge. To address this, this study assesses the optical and microclimatic impact of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe, 50% transparency) and amorphous Silicon (a-Si, 20%) technologies compared to a conventional control in a semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Spectral analysis revealed that CdTe aligned with chlorophyll absorption peaks, preserving a transparency window that yielded a 66% relative gain in biologically useful radiation over the blue-blocking a-Si. Furthermore, while both technologies significantly reduced Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), this shading served as a protective filter against supra-optimal irradiance, stabilizing the internal microclimate. In the control prototype, extreme vapour pressure deficits (VPDs approaching 9.0 kPa) drove maximum reference evapotranspiration (ET0) above 4.6 mm/day. In contrast, the STPV systems effectively capped ET0 at approximately 3.09 mm/day (CdTe) and 1.64 mm/day (a-Si) through their radiative attenuation, despite internal VPDs still reaching 6.5–7.0 kPa during peak summer. This decoupling resulted in drastic average ET0 reductions of 31.4% and 61.3%, respectively, while mitigating soil overheating by up to 17.8%. These findings demonstrate that specific STPV technologies transcend mere shading to function as passive climate resilience tools, naturally enforcing water conservation and physically disarming atmospheric aridity in high-radiation environments.