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Advances on the semi-transparent modules based on micro solar cells: First integration in a greenhouse system

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  • Cossu, Marco
  • Yano, Akira
  • Li, Zhi
  • Onoe, Mahiro
  • Nakamura, Hidetoshi
  • Matsumoto, Toshinori
  • Nakata, Josuke

Abstract

The spherical micro-cells are a semi-transparent photovoltaic (PV) technology which can contribute to improve the sustainability of greenhouse systems. Previous prototypes were tested in laboratory conditions, but the size was not suitable for the greenhouse roof application. In this work, a new prototype has been developed and tested on a real greenhouse roof. The semi-transparent PV module (STM) was composed by 4800 spherical silicon micro-cells (1.2mm diameter) sandwiched between glass plates and integrated on a greenhouse roof with 26.5° slope. The STM was 910mm long and 610mm wide to match the size of the greenhouse framework. The percentage of the STM area covered with micro-cells was 2.3%, reaching 9.7% considering the metallic conductors. The cell density was 2 cells cm−2 and the measured perpendicular light transmissivity of the semi-transparent area was 73%. The characteristics of the prototype were compared with those of a conventional planar multi-crystalline silicon module (CPM). The module conversion efficiency was steadily around 0.2% over wide incident sunlight angle. The micro-cells never completely eclipse the incident sunlight when observed from more than 1m distance from the roof, keeping the eclipsing level at 9.7%. The yield factor of the STM was slightly higher than the CPM because of the isotropic properties of the spherical cells, which are able to use both the sky-incident and the ground-reflected irradiation for energy production, irrespective of the module slope. The prototype STM is promising for greenhouse roof applications and its performance can be improved by increasing the conversion efficiency.

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  • Cossu, Marco & Yano, Akira & Li, Zhi & Onoe, Mahiro & Nakamura, Hidetoshi & Matsumoto, Toshinori & Nakata, Josuke, 2016. "Advances on the semi-transparent modules based on micro solar cells: First integration in a greenhouse system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1042-1051.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:162:y:2016:i:c:p:1042-1051
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.11.002
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    11. Liang, Shen & Zheng, Hongfei & Liu, Shuli & Ma, Xinglong, 2022. "Optical design and validation of a solar concentrating photovoltaic-thermal (CPV-T) module for building louvers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PC).
    12. La Notte, Luca & Giordano, Lorena & Calabrò, Emanuele & Bedini, Roberto & Colla, Giuseppe & Puglisi, Giovanni & Reale, Andrea, 2020. "Hybrid and organic photovoltaics for greenhouse applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    13. Li, Zhi & Yano, Akira & Yoshioka, Hidekazu, 2020. "Feasibility study of a blind-type photovoltaic roof-shade system designed for simultaneous production of crops and electricity in a greenhouse," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    14. Yano, Akira & Cossu, Marco, 2019. "Energy sustainable greenhouse crop cultivation using photovoltaic technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 116-137.
    15. Zhi Li & Akira Yano & Marco Cossu & Hidekazu Yoshioka & Ichiro Kita & Yasuomi Ibaraki, 2018. "Electrical Energy Producing Greenhouse Shading System with a Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic Blind Based on Micro-Spherical Solar Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-23, June.
    16. Raúl Aroca-Delgado & José Pérez-Alonso & Ángel Jesús Callejón-Ferre & Borja Velázquez-Martí, 2018. "Compatibility between Crops and Solar Panels: An Overview from Shading Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.
    17. Marucci, Alvaro & Cappuccini, Andrea, 2016. "Dynamic photovoltaic greenhouse: Energy efficiency in clear sky conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 362-376.
    18. Rabhy, Omar O. & Adam, I.G. & Elsayed Youssef, M. & Rashad, A.B. & Hassan, Gasser E., 2019. "Numerical and experimental analyses of a transparent solar distiller for an agricultural greenhouse," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    19. Valle, B. & Simonneau, T. & Sourd, F. & Pechier, P. & Hamard, P. & Frisson, T. & Ryckewaert, M. & Christophe, A., 2017. "Increasing the total productivity of a land by combining mobile photovoltaic panels and food crops," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1495-1507.
    20. Shuo Chen & Bart J. Dewancker & Simin Yang & Jing Mao & Jie Chen, 2021. "Study on the Roof Solar Heating Storage System of Traditional Residences in Southern Shaanxi, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-27, November.
    21. El Kolaly, Wael & Ma, Wenhui & Li, Ming & Darwesh, Mohammed, 2020. "The investigation of energy production and mushroom yield in greenhouse production based on mono photovoltaic cells effect," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 506-518.
    22. Carlos Toledo & Alessandra Scognamiglio, 2021. "Agrivoltaic Systems Design and Assessment: A Critical Review, and a Descriptive Model towards a Sustainable Landscape Vision (Three-Dimensional Agrivoltaic Patterns)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-38, June.
    23. Bambara, James & Athienitis, Andreas K., 2019. "Energy and economic analysis for the design of greenhouses with semi-transparent photovoltaic cladding," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 1274-1287.
    24. Simona Moretti & Alvaro Marucci, 2019. "A Photovoltaic Greenhouse with Variable Shading for the Optimization of Agricultural and Energy Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, July.

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