Browsing by Subject "Agrivoltaic"

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    Supporting Data for Design Guidelines for Luminescent Solar Concentrator Greenhouses in the United States
    (2024-11-21) Loh, Kristine Q; Harbick, Kale; Eylands, Nathan J; Kortshagen, Uwe R; Ferry, Vivian E; veferry@umn.edu; Ferry, Vivian E
    Agrivoltaic greenhouses combine controlled environment agriculture and photovoltaics in one plot of land to simultaneously address the global challenges of renewable energy and sustainable food production. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) can benefit these systems by providing additional design flexibility, granting the ability to tune light transmission for plant growth while generating electricity. Herein, we determine design guidelines for the implementation of LSCs in agrivoltaic greenhouses given the two competing priorities of light used for crop yield or for energy generation. Using a comprehensive model, we evaluate the impact of LSC design choices on the greenhouse environment, energy generation, crop yield, and economic value in 48 locations across the contiguous United States. We show the PV coverage ratio and the greenhouse’s heating demands determine the energy offset provided by the LSC. For improving crop yield, luminophore selection should maximize transmitted red light. We demonstrate the sensitivity of the economic value to crop yield, thus dictating luminophore selection for optimizing plant growth. Based on current project technology costs, LSC greenhouses are as profitable as conventional greenhouses generally for states below 40 °N. Future improvements to LSC manufacturing may allow previously unprofitable LSC greenhouses to become economically viable in northern states. This work showcases the broad design space for LSCs in agrivoltaic systems and the strong potential of integrating LSCs into greenhouses.
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    Supporting Data for Luminescent Solar Concentrator Greenhouses for Concurrent Energy Generation and Lettuce Production in the United States
    (2024-05-23) Loh, Kristine; Harbick, Kale; Eylands, Nathan; Kortshagen, Uwe; Ferry, Vivian; veferry@umn.edu; Ferry, Vivian; University of Minnesota Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
    Meeting the needs for both renewable energy production and increased food supply to sustain growing communities remains a global challenge. Agrivoltaic greenhouses can meet these dual needs in one plot of land, mitigating land competition. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) benefit these systems by providing additional design flexibility for crop-specific spec-trum modification while allowing sufficient light transmission for crop growth. Silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) have received growing interest as a material candidate for LSC greenhouses as well. We present an investigation into the impact of Si QD film concentration on the energy demands of an LSC greenhouse in Phoenix, Arizona through a comprehensive modelling framework. We then expand upon one Si QD concentration and simulate LSC greenhouses in 48 locations across the United States. We demonstrate LSC greenhouses can supply their annual energy demands in warm climates, where greenhouse heating demands remain low. LSC greenhouses can also be as profitable as the conventional glass greenhouse if the crop yield remains comparable or if the greenhouse can benefit from net metering.