IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i1p135-d1558271.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimization Study of Photovoltaic Cell Arrangement Strategies in Greenhouses

Author

Listed:
  • Yuzhe Qin

    (School of Energy Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China)

  • Qing Cheng

    (School of Energy Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China)

Abstract

The replacement of greenhouse surfaces with photovoltaic cells currently presents issues with internal shading and uneven illumination, which adversely affect crop growth and yield. Therefore, in order to improve greenhouse lighting by altering the arrangement of photovoltaic cells for greater economic and environmental benefits, four cities (Harbin, Shenyang, Nanjing, and Guangzhou) were selected for this study. Greenhouse models were established using the DesignBuilder software tool, focusing on the summer and winter growth stages of cherry tomatoes and strawberries. Two arrangements were employed—compact (CR) and checkerboard (BR)—to evaluate 18 scenarios based on power generation, illuminance uniformity, and temperature. Analysis revealed that, among the four cities, the checkerboard arrangement improved average illumination uniformity by 37.34%, 37.9%, 38.2%, and 35.8%, respectively, compared with the compact arrangement. Except for nine rows of photovoltaic cells in Guangzhou, the unit of area power generation of the schemes exceeded 80 kWh/m 2 in summer, with excellent power generation efficiency. In winter, there was a relative decrease. Among the four cities, only Harbin reached seven rows of photovoltaic cells which produced more than 80 kWh/m 2 under the unit of area of photovoltaic cells, while the other three cities achieved five rows. Strawberries are not suitable for growing in Harbin and Shenyang in winter. In addition to this, cherry tomatoes and strawberries in different regions and at different stages have the best arrangements for growth and for maximizing cost efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuzhe Qin & Qing Cheng, 2025. "Optimization Study of Photovoltaic Cell Arrangement Strategies in Greenhouses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-28, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:1:p:135-:d:1558271
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/135/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/1/135/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yang, Kun & Chen, Yuzhu & Li, Changjie & Wang, Jun & Lund, Peter D., 2024. "Dynamic price optimization of a solar integrated cogeneration system considering uncertainties of building demands," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    2. Ito, Risa & Lee, Sihwan, 2024. "Performance enhancement of photovoltaic integrated shading devices with flexible solar panel using multi-objective optimization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 373(C).
    3. 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).
    4. Singh, G.K., 2013. "Solar power generation by PV (photovoltaic) technology: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1-13.
    5. Aruta, Giuseppe & Ascione, Fabrizio & Bianco, Nicola & Mauro, Gerardo Maria, 2023. "Sustainability and energy communities: Assessing the potential of building energy retrofit and renewables to lead the local energy transition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    6. Jiang, Wei & Wang, Teng & Yuan, Dongdong & Sha, Aimin & Zhang, Shuo & Zhang, Yufei & Xiao, Jingjing & Xing, Chengwei, 2024. "Available solar resources and photovoltaic system planning strategy for highway," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    7. Uddin, Md Muin & Ji, Jie & Wang, Chuyao & Zhang, Chengyan, 2023. "Building energy conservation potentials of semi-transparent CdTe integrated photovoltaic window systems in Bangladesh context," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 512-530.
    8. 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.
    9. Mi, Peiyuan & Zhang, Jili & Gao, Jin & Han, Youhua, 2023. "Study on optimal allocation of solar photovoltaic thermal heat pump integrated energy system for domestic hot water," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P1).
    10. Wang, Longze & Mao, Yuteng & Li, Zhehan & Yi, Xinxing & Ma, Yiyi & Zhang, Yan & Li, Meicheng, 2024. "Life cycle carbon emission intensity assessment for photovoltaic greenhouses: A case study of Beijing City, China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    11. Wang, Caixia & Deng, Shiming & Niu, Jianlei & Long, Enshen, 2019. "A numerical study on optimizing the designs of applying PCMs to a disaster-relief prefabricated temporary-house (PTH) to improve its summer daytime indoor thermal environment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 239-249.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gorjian, Shiva & Bousi, Erion & Özdemir, Özal Emre & Trommsdorff, Max & Kumar, Nallapaneni Manoj & Anand, Abhishek & Kant, Karunesh & Chopra, Shauhrat S., 2022. "Progress and challenges of crop production and electricity generation in agrivoltaic systems using semi-transparent photovoltaic technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    2. Aste, Niccolò & Del Pero, Claudio & Leonforte, Fabrizio & Manfren, Massimiliano, 2013. "A simplified model for the estimation of energy production of PV systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 503-512.
    3. Liu, Shen & Colson, Gregory & Hao, Na & Wetzstein, Michael, 2018. "Toward an optimal household solar subsidy: A social-technical approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 377-387.
    4. Chi, Fang'ai & Xu, Liming & Peng, Changhai, 2020. "Integration of completely passive cooling and heating systems with daylighting function into courtyard building towards energy saving," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    5. Guan, Yanling & Zhang, Hao & Xiao, Bin & Zhou, Zhi & Yan, Xuzhou, 2017. "In-situ investigation of the effect of dust deposition on the performance of polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 1273-1284.
    6. Kamjoo, Azadeh & Maheri, Alireza & Putrus, Ghanim A., 2014. "Chance constrained programming using non-Gaussian joint distribution function in design of standalone hybrid renewable energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 677-688.
    7. Moreno, Álex & Chemisana, Daniel & Lamnatou, Chrysovalantou & Maestro, Santiago, 2023. "Energy and photosynthetic performance investigation of a semitransparent photovoltaic rooftop greenhouse for building integration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    8. Tholkappiyan Ramachandran & Abdel-Hamid I. Mourad & Fathalla Hamed, 2022. "A Review on Solar Energy Utilization and Projects: Development in and around the UAE," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-27, May.
    9. Pan, Zhongjie & Liu, Jia & Wu, Huijun & Luo, Diqian & Huang, Jialong, 2025. "Theoretical-experimental-simulation research on thermal-daylight-electrical performance of PV glazing in high-rise office building in the Greater Bay Area," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 378(PA).
    10. Rawat, Rahul & Kaushik, S.C. & Lamba, Ravita, 2016. "A review on modeling, design methodology and size optimization of photovoltaic based water pumping, standalone and grid connected system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 1506-1519.
    11. 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).
    12. Dong, Liwei & Zuo, Jianyong & Wang, Tianpeng & Xue, Wenbin & Wang, Ping & Li, Jun & Yang, Fan, 2022. "Enhanced piezoelectric harvester for track vibration based on tunable broadband resonant methodology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    13. Ma, Tao & Zhao, Jiaxin & Li, Zhenpeng, 2018. "Mathematical modelling and sensitivity analysis of solar photovoltaic panel integrated with phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1147-1158.
    14. Punia Sindhu, Sonal & Nehra, Vijay & Luthra, Sunil, 2016. "Recognition and prioritization of challenges in growth of solar energy using analytical hierarchy process: Indian outlook," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 332-348.
    15. Bocca, Alberto & Chiavazzo, Eliodoro & Macii, Alberto & Asinari, Pietro, 2015. "Solar energy potential assessment: An overview and a fast modeling approach with application to Italy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 291-296.
    16. Kane, Aarti & Verma, Vishal & Singh, Bhim, 2017. "Optimization of thermoelectric cooling technology for an active cooling of photovoltaic panel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1295-1305.
    17. Waldemar Izdebski & Katarzyna Kosiorek, 2023. "Analysis and Evaluation of the Possibility of Electricity Production from Small Photovoltaic Installations in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-19, January.
    18. Xuan, Qingdong & Li, Guiqiang & Lu, Yashun & Zhao, Bin & Zhao, Xudong & Pei, Gang, 2019. "The design, construction and experimental characterization of a novel concentrating photovoltaic/daylighting window for green building roof," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 1138-1152.
    19. Kusakana, Kanzumba, 2014. "Techno-economic analysis of off-grid hydrokinetic-based hybrid energy systems for onshore/remote area in South Africa," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 947-957.
    20. Gorjian, Shiva & Jalili Jamshidian, Farid & Gorjian, Alireza & Faridi, Hamideh & Vafaei, Mohammad & Zhang, Fangxin & Liu, Wen & Elia Campana, Pietro, 2023. "Technological advancements and research prospects of innovative concentrating agrivoltaics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:1:p:135-:d:1558271. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.