Greenhouse power plants under development at NC State

• 7 years ago (2016-09-28)
• David Flin

North America 1004 Renewables 757

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Researchers from North Carolina State University (NC State) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) in the USA are launching a project to develop next generation greenhouses with built-in solar cells that make use of the entire spectrum of solar light.

Brendan O’Connor, primary investigator of the project, said: “We know that plants don’t make use of all wavelengths of light. Leaves reflect green and near-infrared light. So we plan to make solar cells that absorb those unused wavelengths of light, but allow the remainder of the sunlight to pass through to the plants. This would allow us to create greenhouses that generate electricity using solar power, without adversely affecting plant growth. We call the overarching concept the Solar Powered Integrated Greenhouse, or SPRING system.”

The project is supported by a four-year $3 million grant from a new National Science Foundation programme called Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems (INFEWS).

The researchers also want to be able to fine-tune the solar cells to maximise their utility in different climates and complement plant growth. For example, the right solar cells could allow growers to better regulate temperatures in greenhouses and cultivate plants more efficiently.