Renewables
Researchers test magenta solar panels for broccoli agrivoltaics
A recent study investigates semitransparent, magenta-colored cadmium telluride solar panels paired with broccoli cultivation in central Sweden.
Key points
- Researchers evaluated magenta CdTe solar panels with 50% and 70% transparency levels.
- Broccoli grown beneath both panel configurations showed no significant differences in fresh head weight or nutrient composition.
- Crops under the solar systems experienced a 25-day delay in maturity compared to an open-field control plot.
What happened
A collaborative team of researchers from Sweden and Italy has examined the performance of semitransparent, magenta-tinted cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic panels configured for an agrivoltaic system. According to pv magazine, the study focused on whether sunlight can be shared efficiently between crop cultivation and power generation by tailoring light spectrums to plant needs.
The field trial took place during the 2024 growing season at a site in central Sweden. Investigators cultivated broccoli beneath two photovoltaic configurations with nominal transparency levels of 50% and 70%, alongside an open-field control plot. The experimental setups utilized panels supplied by Advanced Solar Power, positioned at a 6-degree tilt angle and a minimum height of 1.5 metres.
Why it matters
At harvest, broccoli grown under the 50% and 70% transparency systems yielded average fresh head weights that did not differ significantly from the open-field control. While plants beneath the photovoltaic arrays matured in 104 days—representing a 25-day delay relative to the 79-day maturity period of the open-field reference group—the similarity in performance between the two shading levels prompted researchers to favour the higher-density 50% transparency option due to its increased electricity generation potential.
Radiation use efficiency was notably higher beneath the arrays, recording values 4.5 times greater for the 50% transparency setup and 2.8 times greater for the 70% configuration compared to the control plot. Calculations for a theoretical hectare-scale deployment indicated a land equivalent ratio of 1.18.
What comes next
Corresponding author Silvia Ma Lu noted in pv magazine that the team is expanding its research to analyse how semitransparent magenta panels and other colour-selective designs influence plant growth under controlled conditions. The findings were originally detailed in Cell Reports Physical Science by researchers affiliated with Mälardalen University, the National Research Council of Italy, and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
41.0% of electricity in Italy was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
