A greenhouse that at the same time that it can grow the crops inside it can generate electrical energy is the most efficient that could exist. Well it exists and they are known as "smart" greenhouses. In them, tomato and cucumber crops can grow with the same quality and in the same quantity as in conventional greenhouses.
Do you want to know how these solar greenhouses work and the revolution it will take in agriculture?
Solar greenhouses
These greenhouses are capable of capturing solar energy and transform it into electricity at the same time they can cultivate. Solar greenhouses have photovoltaic systems that select the appropriate wavelength of the sun's rays to generate electricity more efficiently and at a lower cost than traditional photovoltaic systems. The solar panels are transparent and embedded in the roof with a bright magenta luminescent tint that is able to absorb light and transfer energy to the photovoltaic strips where electricity is produced.
Thanks to the selection of certain wavelengths that they absorb, they allow the rest to pass and allow the plants to grow without any problem or limitation due to lack of sunlight. This technology has been developed by the co-authors Sue Carter and Glenn Alers, both physics professors at UC Santa Cruz, who founded the company in 2012 to bring the technology to market.
The crops are a success
To find out if the absorption of light by the solar panels affected in any way the growth of the crops, the photosynthesis of the plants was monitored in tomatoes, cucumbers, limes, peppers, strawberries, etc. 80% of the plants were not affectedwhile 20% actually grew better under magenta windows.
Plants have also been found to require 5% less water to grow than in conventional greenhouses, so this technology also saves water.
Reducing the energy consumed by greenhouses has become a priority as the global use of greenhouses for food production it has multiplied by six in the last 20 years.
With this technology, agriculture becomes more sustainable, since it generates its own energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
If you want to see the full study, it's here: https://dash.library.ucsc.edu/stash/dataset/doi:10.7291/D10T0W