Research on Semitransparent Photovoltaic Modules and Lettuce Growth
Researchers at Western University in Canada have experimentally evaluated how different semitransparent photovoltaic (PV) modules affect romaine lettuce growth, aiming to clarify the relationship between PV transparency, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and crop productivity.
Study Objectives and Methodology
Corresponding author Uzair Jamil said the work fills a gap in controlled experimental evidence. The team measured crop responses across a broad range of PV transparencies to provide data that can guide agrivoltaic policy decisions in regions where regulation has not yet fully accounted for the technology.
Experimental Setup
The trial was run in growth chambers set to mimic a London, Ontario summer, with daytime temperatures of 25 °C, nights at 19 °C, and a 16-hour photoperiod. Supplemental lighting came from four 600 W high-pressure sodium lamps.
Photovoltaic Transparency Testing
Researchers tested seven cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film PV transparencies: 10%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%. Each module covered six lettuce plants; eight addition...