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Photon management heightens the energy use efficiency of greenhouses through the integration of photovoltaic systems and supplemental lighting

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Fangcai
  • Zhang, Zhisen
  • Abaker Omer, Altyeb Ali
  • Zhang, Fangxin
  • Fan, Liulu
  • Ma, Haoyu
  • Lu, Hao
  • Li, Ming
  • Zhang, Xinyu
  • Liu, Wen

Abstract

Photovoltaic greenhouses can help address food and energy demands. At present, the challenges facing photovoltaic greenhouses include optimizing shade to establish a balance between energy and food production and overcoming uneven lighting. In this research, a novel greenhouse named the light management photovoltaic greenhouse (LMPG) is designed to augment photosynthesis via photon management. A mathematical model for evaluating the photon absorption potential in LMPG is introduced, which reveals the potential for medium- and low-light crop species to absorb 1.8 times the number of photons in LMPG compared with a conventional greenhouse. The cultivation experiment results revealed that the uniformity of the daily light integral reached over 0.95 with an average light transmittance of the ES plate of 77.2 %. Moreover, the yield of lettuce reached 2164.25 g m−2 in this system, 159 % greater than that of conventional agricultural films. This system improves radiation use efficiency (RUE) by at least 72 % compared to conventional greenhouses. In addition, the electricity generated by the photovoltaic system could fully cover the electricity required for supplemental lighting, which accomplished an energy-self consumption model. This system provides an approach for improving the utilization of solar energy in greenhouses and increasing land productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Fangcai & Zhang, Zhisen & Abaker Omer, Altyeb Ali & Zhang, Fangxin & Fan, Liulu & Ma, Haoyu & Lu, Hao & Li, Ming & Zhang, Xinyu & Liu, Wen, 2025. "Photon management heightens the energy use efficiency of greenhouses through the integration of photovoltaic systems and supplemental lighting," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:247:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125006718
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123009
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