Examining the effect of different photovoltaic modules on cucumber crops in a greenhouse agrivoltaic system: A case study

Abstract

Agrivoltaic systems, a fusion of agriculture and photovoltaic (PV) technology, have emerged as a sustainable solution to optimise land use by enabling simultaneous solar energy and agricultural harvesting. The experiments were conducted in a polytunnel greenhouse in Kfar Qara, Israel, deploying three types of semi-transparent solar PV panels—bifacial glass-encapsulated silicon, bifacial plastic-encapsulated silicon, and semi-transparent organic photovoltaics (OPVs) installed above the plant canopy. The impact of these PV treatments on cucumber crops was evaluated and juxtaposed against a control greenhouse with no panels, over the spring season from February to June 2022. Key growth and yield metrics were recorded during 17 harvests between April 10 and June 2, 2022. The findings revealed a negligible decline in crop yield across PV panel treatments compared to the control. Notably, the control and glass-encapsulated silicon PV treatments demonstrated an increase in yield, growth, and fruit quality. Moreover, the glass-encapsulated silicon PV panels outperformed the plastic-encapsulated and OPV module power conversion in the high heat and humidity of the greenhouse environment. This study accentuates the potential of integrating glass-encapsulated silicon PV panels in polytunnel greenhouses, heralding a promising avenue for bolstering agrivoltaic applications by ensuring a harmonious balance between agricultural yield and electrical energy production.