Canadian researchers have studied the impact of growing strawberries using transparent thin-film solar panels (Cd-Te) on yield. In experiments conducted in artificially created open field conditions, panels with different levels of transparency were used and the growth performance of strawberries was compared.
📌 Panels with 40% transparency yielded over 80% compared to the control group.
📌 The average fresh weight of strawberries grown under panels with 70% transparency was 40% higher than the control group.
📌 As the transparency rate increased, the passage of light required for photosynthesis increased and a positive effect on yield was observed.
Modeling studies conducted in the light of these data show that 173 TWh of electricity could be generated annually and 82 million tons of COâ‚‚ emissions could be avoided if strawberry fields around the world were converted to Agrivoltaics. On a Canadian scale, between 595 GWh and 1,786 GWh of electricity could be generated annually.
By integrating agriculture and renewable energy generation, AgriGES has great potential to increase food security, energy supply and farmers’ income sources.