Manufactured by Italian scientists, organic solar panels with an efficiency of 3.88% can filter the light from the roof of the greenhouse. They can also provide part of the power needed to power the temperature and humidity sensors in the greenhouse.
The effective area of the solar module is 221 cm2.
Picture: Tor Vergata University of Rome
Researchers at Tor Vergata University in Rome, Italy have developed an organic solar panel based on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) that can be used in greenhouses.
Research author Luigi Vesce told Photovoltaic Magazine: “We use these panels to study the trade-off between the energy production of the advanced aquaponic greenhouse and its impact on the growth of crops and filter light.” “We covered 2 m 2 with 40 modules. Greenhouse area."
The power conversion efficiency of solar panels is 3.88%, and the transparency is 35%. The effective area is 221 cm2, and the aperture area of the module is 312.9 cm2. Its creator claims that the module exhibits remarkable stability when subjected to 1,000 hours of pressure under temperature and light conditions of 60 to 85 degrees Celsius.
Picture: Tor Vergata University of Rome
Solar cells are connected in series through research through a manufacturing process that occurs entirely in ambient air. "The width of the cell is designed based on the well-known trade-off between the geometrical area efficiency loss and the resistivity of the transparent FTO electrode," the team said. The photoelectrode and counter electrode are made of glass and screen-printed with silver contacts.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) paste provided by the Australian manufacturer GreatCell was applied to the photoelectrode. The scientists pointed out: "The TiO2 layer as a wide band gap semiconductor is 5 microns thick and has a particle size of about 20 nanometers, which is consistent with the TiO2 layer used for translucent applications." The machine laminates two battery strings through a thermal vacuum lamination process. "Two 4 mm thick tempered glass are used as the external substrate, and two 450 m thick low-temperature cross-linked EVA plates are used as a sealant."
Picture: Tor Vergata University of Rome
When tested in a greenhouse, the panel initially showed an average efficiency of 2.5%, an average voltage of 8.9 V, and an average current of 152 mA. It is found that its nominal power is between 2 to 3 W. However, after a few days, the power conversion efficiency increased by about 30%. "Usually, in DSSC technology, the best efficiency is observed a few days after the equipment is manufactured," the Italian scientist explained.
According to them, solar modules can provide part of the electricity to power the temperature and humidity sensors in the greenhouse. "Preliminary results of plant growth under DSSC filtered light show that there is no difference between lettuce growth under natural light and DSC filtered light," they said, adding that more research is needed.
All the technical details of the new module can be found in the paper "Stable translucent dye-sensitized solar modules and panels for greenhouse applications" recently published in the "Energy" magazine.
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More articles by Emiliano Bellini
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