Solar Strawberry Fields Forever

December 05, 2022

Transparent solar panels for greenhouses are emerging as an approach to increase crop yields while generating clean power.

Through optical micro-tracking technology, the modules can generate energy but also leak the light when necessary — creating a ‘smart’ shade that automatically adjusts the light. This process boosts photosynthesis and increases yield and quality of agricultural products.

Called “agrivoltaics,” it’s a concept that is currently being tested on raspberries and strawberries by a Swiss private-public consortium.