Semi-Transparent Solar Cells Can Power Greenhouses Without Stunting Plant Growth
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Photo credit: mustafagull / E+ / Getty Images. Article by David Nield. Science Alert – March 21, 2021.
Greenhouses fitted with semi-transparent solar cells can generate electricity without affecting the growth and health of the plants inside, according to a new study, suggesting we could build energy-neutral greenhouses without harming crops.
Researchers tested groups of red leaf lettuce under different types of glass and different wavelengths of light, keeping all other variables the same – including temperature, CO2 concentration, and supplies of water and fertilizer.
The lettuce grown under solar cells showed no major difference in any key measurement, including antioxidants, CO2 absorption, size, and weight. As a bonus, the solar panels helped regulate the temperature of the greenhouse, too. […]
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