Influences of greenhouse-integrated semi-transparent photovoltaics on microclimate and lettuce growth

Hassanien, Reda Hassanien Emam; Li, Ming

doi:10.25165/j.ijabe.20171006.3407

Cited by 32 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The other issue is the effect of PVs on the internal microclimate and productivity of the greenhouse. The integration of semitransparent PV panels placed at a distance of 8 cm from the greenhouse pitched roof, covering 20% of the roof, causes solar radiation reduction of 35%-40% and a temperature reduction of 1-3 • C according to field measurements for tomato and lettuce crops [1,7]. In [8], the replacement of the 50% of a pitched roof with multi-crystalline PV measuring the temperature and the solar radiation inside the greenhouse is examined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Simulation of Radiation and Crop Activity in a Greenhouse Covered with Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics

et al. 2020

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A solution to the problem of reduction of available photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) due to the cover with conventional opaque photovoltaics (PV) of greenhouses is the use of semitransparent PV. The question is how dense the semitransparent PV should be and how dense the coverage should be in order not to burden plant growth. The present paper assesses the effect of the use of semitransparent organic photovoltaics (OPV) on the greenhouse roof cover on the available PAR inside the greenhouse. The method used is to simulate the transmission of radiation through the cover and into the greenhouse with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) using the discrete ordinates (DO) model. Three combinations of OPV/cover that give a normal (perpendicular) transmittance to PAR of 30%, 45%, and 60%, defining the required PV covering, were examined. Then the radiation transmission during eight indicative solar days was simulated. The results are given in terms of available PAR radiation inside the greenhouse and of crop photosynthesis rate, comparing them with the results of a polyethylene cover without OPVs and external conditions. The reduction observed to the mean daily PAR radiation integral for the cases with normal PAR transmittance of 30%, 45%, and 60% in relation to the bare polyethylene (PE) was 77%, 66%, and 52%, respectively while the respective simulated reduction to the daily average photosynthesis rate was 33%, 21%, and 12%, respectively. Finally, the yearly power production from the OPV per greenhouse length meter for the cases with normal PAR transmittance of 30%, 45%, and 60% was 323, 242, and 158 kWh m−1 y−1, respectively. The results of this work could be further used for the optimization of greenhouse design for maximizing the PAR at the crop level.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With field measurements the influence of roof integrated PVs on the evapotranspiration rate, and consequently on water management, is also approached [9]. Finally, the effect of the PV incorporation on the roof depends on the percentage of cover but also on the cultivation with tomato and lettuce being less vulnerable than onion [1,3,5,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation of Radiation and Crop Activity in a Greenhouse Covered with Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics

et al. 2020

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“…The integration of semi-transparent photovoltaic panels can decrease the solar irradiation and the internal air temperatures, as well as generate electric energy for environmental control systems (Hassanien et al [4]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compatibility between Crops and Solar Panels: An Overview from Shading Systems

et al. 2018

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The use of alternative energy in agricultural production is desired by many researchers, especially for protected crops that are grown in greenhouses with photovoltaic panels on the roofs. These panels allow for the passage of varying levels of sunlight according to the needs of each type of crop. In this way, sustainable and more economic energy can be generated than that offered by fossil fuels. The objective of this work is to review the literature regarding the applications of selective shading systems with crops, highlighting the use of photovoltaic panels. In this work, shading systems have been classified as bleaching, mesh, screens, and photovoltaic modules. The search was conducted using Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus until February 2018. In total, 113 articles from scientific journals and related conferences were selected. The most important authors of this topic are “Yano A” and “Abdel-Ghany AM”, and regarding the number of documents cited, the most important journal is Biosystems Engineering. The year 2017 had the most publications, with a total of 20, followed by 2015 with 14. The use of shading systems, especially of photovoltaic panels, requires more crop-specific research to determine the optimum percentage of panels that does not reduce agricultural production.

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“…In this way, appropriate levels of shading and electricity generation can be achieved concurrently. For example, some reported studies have demonstrated that Welsh onion [28], tomato [29,30], lettuce [31][32][33][34], and wild rocket [35] were cultivated properly under the semi-transparent PV panels. Accordingly, solar-radiation use efficiency in the greenhouse would be increased by the use of PV-generated electrical energy for cultivation environment management.Another concept related to the use of PVs in greenhouse roofs is partitioning of the wavelength ranges of the solar radiation spectrum for electrical energy generation and crop cultivation using infrared reflective film [36,37], organic PV cells [38][39][40], dye-sensitized PV cells [41,42], or dichroitic polymer film [43].…”

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Electrical Energy Producing Greenhouse Shading System with a Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic Blind Based on Micro-Spherical Solar Cells

Yano

Cossu

et al. 2018

Energies

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An increasing population and limited arable land area endanger sufficient and variegated food supplies worldwide. Greenhouse cultivation enables highly intensive plant production and thereby enables the production of abundant fresh vegetables and fruits. The salient benefits of greenhouse cultivation are supported by ingenious management of crop environments, assisted by fossil fuel and grid electricity supplies. To reduce dependence on traditional energy resources, various studies have investigated exploitation of renewable energies for greenhouse environment management. Among them, solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies are anticipated to feed electrical energy to greenhouse appliances for microclimate control. This study proposes a venetian-blind-type shading system consisting of semi-transparent PV modules as blind blades based on micro-spherical solar cell technology to achieve greenhouse shading and electricity production concurrently. In response to the solar irradiance level, the PV blind inclination was altered automatically using a direct current (DC) motor driven by electrical energy generated by the PV blind itself. The PV blind was operated continuously during a five-month test period without outage. Moreover, the PV blind generated surplus electrical energy of 2125 kJ for blind system operations during the test period. The annual surplus energy calculated under the present experimental condition was 7.8 kWh m −2 year −1 , suggesting that application of the PV blind to a greenhouse roof enables sunlight level control and electrical appliance operations in the greenhouse with a diminished fuel and grid electricity supply, particularly in high-insolation regions.Energies 2018, 11, 1681 2 of 23 produces carbon dioxide emissions, the amounts of which should be reduced in the agricultural sector [2]. Under these circumstances, various studies have been conducted to use renewable energy for managing greenhouse crop environments [3,4]. Among them, solar photovoltaics (PVs) are expected to feed electricity to appliances that are used for greenhouse environment management [5].Deploying PV arrays on the sunny ground beside a greenhouse is the simplest and most effective mode of electrical energy generation. For instance, fan and pad cooling systems in Saudi Arabia [6] and in Arizona [7], a fog cooling system in Malaysia [8], and heat pump systems in Italy [9,10] were operated with power from ground-mounted PV arrays. Nevertheless, installing PV arrays partially on a greenhouse roof might be preferred if the PV panels are intended as shading materials. Shading is a fundamentally important practice for greenhouse cultivation in high-insolation regions, such as Spain [11] or Saudi Arabia [12]. Previous studies conducted in Japan [13] and in the Mediterranean region [14,15] demonstrated that an adequate level of shading mitigates excessive temperature rises in greenhouses in summer, improving crop growth and quality [16,17]. Conventionally, nets [14,15,18] and reflective coatings [18,19] have been used as practical ...

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Influences of greenhouse-integrated semi-transparent photovoltaics on microclimate and lettuce growth

Cited by 32 publications

References 28 publications

Simulation of Radiation and Crop Activity in a Greenhouse Covered with Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics

Simulation of Radiation and Crop Activity in a Greenhouse Covered with Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics

Compatibility between Crops and Solar Panels: An Overview from Shading Systems

Electrical Energy Producing Greenhouse Shading System with a Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic Blind Based on Micro-Spherical Solar Cells

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