A diverse range of sustainable energy sources will play a crucial role in building a sustainable future and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. There is an increase in competition between food and energy production for land use and as such, interest in co-use of land for both agricultural and energy production has become an area of interest for research [1]. Multiple studies have been conducted that analyse various approaches for using silicon solar panels on greenhouse roofs and the effects on crop yields, energy production and microclimate. [2] [3] [4] [5] This study investigates the concept of using semi-transparent luminescent solar concentrators as greenhouse rooftop panels for the co-production of food and energy. Both the crops and luminescent dyes used in solar concentrators have a specific absorption spectrum for solar radiation. [6] Plants have a high absorption of light in the blue and red spectrum with peaks at 440 nm, 620 nm, and 670 nm [7] which it uses for photo morphological/phototropic responses and photosynthesis, respectively [8]. A luminescent concentrator that allows light of these wavelengths to pass undisrupted through while capturing energy for electrical conversion from other areas of the spectrum offers a promising solution to agrivoltaic applications. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) consists of solar radiation from between 400-700 nm which is used by crops to drive photosynthesis. Non-PAR, or non-photosynthetically active radiation, is light that falls outside these wavelengths such as infrared and UV radiation which can be captured and converted into electricity without impacting the photosynthetic rate of the crops. Luminescent dyes that absorb light in the PAR region and the IR region are integrated into the model. By carefully choosing a luminescent dye that absorbs radiation from the non-PAR spectral region and from the regions of low photosynthetic absorption in the PAR region, electricity can be generated while minimizing the effects of reduced solar irradiance on crop yield. By reducing the amount of light entering the greenhouse the crop experiences a shading effect and the micro-climate within the greenhouse is altered. Shading on greenhouses is commonly used in warm climates during summer [9] [10] [11]. An analysis of the literature on the effects of shading in greenhouses was done to assess the possible impacts of semitransparent roof material on the microclimates and crop yields in greenhouses. A reduction of solar radiation due to greenhouse shading was found to have a beneficial effect on crop yield and water use in climates/seasons with high solar irradiance and hot temperatures [3] [9] [10] [11]. Herein we perform numerical analysis to model a greenhouse made using semi-transparent roof-top panels that function as luminescent solar concentrators that direct non-PAR onto photovoltaic cells located at the edges of the panels. Our results show that by designing LSCs with optimal concentrations and types of dye the operation of a greenhouse can be greatly enhanced ...
Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are a promising technology for integration and renewable energy generation in buildings because they are inexpensive, lightweight, aesthetically versatile, can concentrate both direct and diffuse light and offer wavelength-selective transparency. LSCs have been extensively investigated for applications involving photovoltaic electricity generation. However, little work has been done to investigate the use of thermal energy generated at the edges of LSCs, despite the potential for harnessing a broad range of solar thermal energy. In this work, Newton’s law of cooling is used to measure the thermal power generated at the edge of LSC modules subjected to solar-simulated radiation. Results show that the dye in single-panel LSC modules can generate 17.9 W/m2 under solar-simulated radiation with an intensity of 23.95 mW/cm2 over the spectral region from 360 to 1000 nm. Assuming a mean daily insolation of 5 kWh/m2, the dye in the single-panel LSC modules can generate ~100 kWh/m2 annually. If the surface area of a building is comparable to its floor space, thermal energy generated from LSCs on the buildings surface could be used to substantially reduce the buildings energy consumption.
The lifecycle CO 2 -Eq emissions of solar streetlighting for a subdivision development is analysed and compared with the emissions of grid connected streetlighting. Solar LED streetlighting is shown to offer the potential for the reduction of greenhouse gas emission over grid connected LED streetlighting in areas where the emissions associated with grid electricity generation are greater than ~80 gCO 2 -Eq/kWh. In areas such as Alberta where fossil fuel energy sources provide almost 50% of the grid electricity generation, solar streetlighting can lead to a 92% decrease in emissions from streetlighting over a 30-year lifespan.
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