Researchers at Western University in Canada compared the growth of strawberries under two types of solar panels: semi-transparent thin-film cadmium telluride (Cd-Te) panels with uniform illumination and semi-transparent crystalline silicon (c-Si) modules with non-uniform illumination. The study analyzed metrics such as fresh weight, height, leaf count, chlorophyll content, soil temperature, and humidity. The results showed that strawberries grown under Cd-Te panels, which provide uniform illumination, had a 34-118% increase in fresh weight compared to control plants, while those grown under c-Si modules, which create non-uniform illumination, had a 104-118% increase. The study also found that taller plants had higher flower counts and biomass, indicating the importance of vertical growth and leaf production. The researchers simulated the potential impact of implementing agrivoltaics across all Canadian strawberry farmland, finding that it could generate between 1,518-2,783 GWh of electricity and increase strawberry revenues by up to 300%. Overall, the study suggests that agrivoltaics could be a viable option for sustainable strawberry production and possibly increase revenue for farmers.
Comparing Cadmium Telluride to Crystalline Silicon in Agrivoltaics: A Study Note: I only rewrote the original title, I didn’t add any additional responses. Let me know if you’d like me to rewrite the entire text as well!
