Optimizing Light Transmission & Shading for Agrivoltaics

A solar system that enables simultaneous agricultural and photovoltaic energy production by using selective spectral absorbance and transmittance solar cells. The cells are designed to match the specific light requirements of crops, allowing for optimal plant growth while generating electricity. The system utilizes quantum dots and perovskite solar cells with tailored spectral tunability to achieve this balance, and employs non-toxic materials to ensure environmental safety.

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Suspended solar cell system for agrivoltaics that allows higher solar cell density above crops without shading. The system uses customized solar cells with tailored absorption and transmittance spectra to match plant light requirements. The cells are suspended above the crops to avoid shading. The cell base area covers a fraction of the crop area below to allow sunlight for growth. The cells are designed with specific materials and layers to absorb light for the plants while transmitting the needed wavelengths. This allows coexistence of solar cells and crops without significant light competition. The cells can also be made with non-toxic materials to minimize environmental impact.

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Transparent solar panels for agrivoltaics that enable simultaneous plant growth and energy harvesting. The panels feature wavelength-selective photoactive materials that allow for controlled light transmission to plants while generating electricity from absorbed light. The panels can be integrated into agricultural systems, including greenhouses and open-field arrays, to optimize crop growth and energy production. The technology enables flexible agrivoltaic systems that can accommodate diverse crops and growing conditions, with design parameters including daily light integral (DLI) and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC).

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A plant cultivation device and method that increases total phenolic compound content in plants through targeted light exposure. The device features a light source unit with multiple LEDs emitting different wavelength bands, including a primary light source for photosynthesis and a secondary light source emitting UV light for phenolic compound synthesis. The device controls light exposure to optimize growth stages, including germination, growth, and pre-harvest stages, to produce plants with enhanced antioxidant capacity.

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A three-dimensional plant growth lighting system that provides comprehensive lighting coverage for plants by integrating top, lateral, and bottom lighting modules. The system features a controller that adjusts lighting parameters based on plant species, growth stage, and environmental conditions, including CO2 concentration and illuminance. The lateral lighting module's lighting range is dynamically adjusted based on plant height, ensuring optimal photosynthesis and energy efficiency.

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Multisensory imaging system for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) that integrates multispectral imaging with integrated sensing to provide comprehensive crop monitoring. The system employs a distributed sensor grid that combines hyperspectral imaging with environmental monitoring, including lighting, temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. This integrated approach enables comprehensive monitoring of crops across entire grow spaces, from large fields to individual plants, while maintaining high spatial resolution. The system's multispectral imaging capabilities capture detailed spectral signatures of crops, while the integrated sensing network monitors environmental conditions. This integrated approach enables farmers to gain detailed insights into crop health and environmental conditions through a single system, reducing the complexity and cost associated with multiple sensors.

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Since the development of Agrivoltaics with panels placed above the plants, a new system is tested with vertical mounted bifacial photovoltaic panels, of which we present the results of the first year of two experimental sites. Such installations bring a lower shading level on the plant compared to fixed tilt or single axis tracking systems and could potentially suit fields with crops having low demands of shading. However, unlike more standard PV systems, few studies have detailed the effects of such devices on field crops. In this first experimental year, bifacial vertically mounted PV system showed interesting results with a stable or even a slight increase in annual crop yields. Also, harvest quality indicators are maintained or present favorable evolution indicating a high potential of vertical PV systems for Agrivoltaics.

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A compact LED-based lighting fixture for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems that enables higher light levels while minimizing environmental heat dissipation. The fixture incorporates a fluid-cooled design with a transparent tube structure that houses the LED light source, control circuitry, and coolant channel. The coolant system extracts heat generated by the LED during operation, which is then transferred to the cooling system through a thermally coupled coolant pipe. This innovative design enables higher light intensities while maintaining controlled environmental conditions, particularly in applications where traditional cooling systems may not be feasible.

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A grow light system for enhancing plant growth using a combination of LED and laser diodes. The system includes a housing containing red and blue high-power LEDs, UV and infrared laser diodes, and a controller for managing the light spectrum. The system allows for independent adjustment of the red and blue LED light output and incorporates a heat sink design that uses thermal differential to extract heat from the LEDs. The system also includes a magnetic crystalline scalar wave guide and an earthing attachment for grounding the plants. The system can be controlled remotely via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and includes a feedback loop to ensure the integrity of the earthing system.

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A crop cultivation device that optimizes lighting for crop growth while minimizing power consumption. The device features a movable frame with a sub-frame that houses a specialized lighting module. The sub-frame is designed with an inclined angle to direct light precisely onto the growing crops, while the frame itself is adjustable to accommodate different crop sizes. A separate refraction module with movable lenses enables precise control over light distribution. The device's control system analyzes crop dimensions and lighting conditions to dynamically adjust lighting intensity and direction.

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Increased global demand for food and energy implies higher competition for agricultural land. Photovoltaic installations contribute to more sustainable solutions to satisfying energy requirements, however, they also require land. To address this dilemma, agrivoltaics has been proposed, combining energy and agricultural production on the same area. Our objectives were to review and synthesise the current agronomic knowledge on agrivoltaics and its future development possibilities. A systematic literature search was conducted in Web of Science on 17 December 2022, resulting in 54 articles that met the inclusion criteria and concentrated primarily on food production. Most studies focused on combining electricity generation with crop production. Vegetables, especially lettuce and tomato, were the focus of many papers. The success of a crop under an agrivoltaic system depends on many factors, yet mainly on location and season. Additionally, even light-demanding crops such as maize could be grown under certain conditions. Therefore, we propose to define an optimal daily light integral for ... Read More

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The global population is experiencing rapid growth, leading to increased demand for energy and food resources, necessitating the expansion of cultivated land. The construction of photovoltaic power plants to meet energy needs may result in competition for land between the agriculture and energy sectors. To address this issue, agrivoltaics systems are perceived as a solution, allowing for the coexistence of agricultural and energy production in the same area. However, the shading caused by solar panels can potentially. Therefore, a model has been developed to determine the best configuration for maximising both crop yields and energy production from the photovoltaic field. The purpose of this paper is to develop a model that optimizes energy production and crop yield within an agrivoltaics system. The model integrates factors such as elevation, spacing, tilt, panel technology and size to enhance the radiation under the photovoltaic panels, as well as to increase crop yield and the efficiency of photovoltaic array. It is constructed based on the climatic condition and the relationship ... Read More

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A system for controlling plant growth through precise modulation of photon energy. The system uses LED emitters in combination with a control unit to deliver pulses of specific wavelengths and intensities to plants, synchronizing with their natural absorption patterns to optimize growth and minimize energy consumption. By controlling the timing, duration, and frequency of photon delivery, the system enables precise control over plant development, including germination, flowering, and reproduction.

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A solid-state lighting device for horticulture applications that targets primary chlorophyll absorption peaks while providing broader spectrum emissions between the peaks. The device comprises a first LED chip emitting a peak wavelength in the 600-700nm range, a second LED chip emitting a peak wavelength in the 400-480nm range, and a lumiphoric material converting the second LED chip's emissions to a third peak wavelength in the 480-600nm range. The aggregate emissions have a total photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 400-700nm, with the third PPF band accounting for 30-60% of the total PPF. The device achieves an efficiency of at least 3.1 PPF/W in the 400-700nm range.

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Solar agricultural tracker for agricultural land that pivots solar modules to avoid collisions with agricultural equipment while maintaining optimal solar exposure for crops. The tracker features a four-joint pivoting mechanism that enables controlled movement of the modules to accommodate different agricultural operations and terrain conditions. The system can be controlled centrally or in real-time with agricultural equipment, allowing for optimized power output while protecting crops from shading and weather conditions.

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A light source module for plant cultivation that increases phytochemical content through UV treatment, comprising a UV light source with adjustable wavelength and intensity, and a control system for setting treatment parameters. The module can be integrated into a light source device for plant cultivation that includes an input unit, setting unit, and controller for managing UV treatment conditions.

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A plant cultivation method that enhances photosynthesis by applying additional light with periodic intensity fluctuations, comprising a primary light source for photosynthesis and an additional light source that emits signal light with periodic intensity changes and relaxation light with gradual intensity changes. The additional light is applied during at least part of the cultivation period, and its intensity is controlled to optimize plant growth and secondary metabolism.

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Controlling agricultural systems in a way that allows for optimization and adaptation to the specific needs of plants. The system includes a number of processing lines that move a first plurality of plants through the agricultural system along a route, and a first growth condition to the first plurality of plants to satisfy a first active agent parameter for the first plurality of plants.

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A control apparatus that calculates an effective photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) value for a measured object, such as a plant, by considering environmental factors like CO2 concentration, temperature, and humidity, and uses this value to optimize environmental conditions for improved photosynthesis. The apparatus includes a sensing unit to measure the object's photosynthetic activity, an environment sensor to monitor environmental conditions, and a control unit to adjust environmental parameters based on the calculated effective PPFD value.

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Agricultural photovoltaic structure with controlled cooling for simultaneous electricity generation and crop cultivation. The structure features adjustable photovoltaic panels, glass, irrigation, and lighting systems, controlled by a central management system to optimize both energy production and crop growth. The system includes cooling mechanisms, such as nozzles, to lower panel temperatures during irrigation, and hail protection features to safeguard crops. The structure can accommodate various crop types and can be integrated with existing agricultural land, enabling efficient use of land resources while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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