Translucent Solar Glass: A "Sunshine Magician" Revolutionizing Traditional Agrivoltaics

Driven by the dual goals of "carbon neutrality" and rural revitalization, agrivoltaics is undergoing an industry upgrade from "simple superposition" to "deep coupling." In this transformation, translucent solar glass based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film technology is reshaping industry perceptions with disruptive innovation. Its breakthrough photoelectric conversion performance and agricultural adaptability may usher in a new era of precision agriculture with "power generation on the roof and harvest under the roof."

Cadmium telluride (CdTe), as an important II-VI compound semiconductor material, exhibits enormous potential in the photovoltaic field due to its direct transition band structure, high light energy absorption coefficient, and stable chemical properties. Its unique physical characteristics, such as an absorption coefficient exceeding 10^5/cm, mean that even under weak light conditions, CdTe thin films can efficiently capture photons and convert them into electricity. In addition, CdTe thin-film solar modules have a low temperature coefficient, high safety, and excellent customization capabilities, allowing them to flexibly match various application scenarios, including agrivoltaics. Importantly, CdTe thin-film solar modules are recyclable at the end of their life cycle, with a material recovery rate as high as 90%, aligning with the concept of green and circular development.

Advantages of Translucent Cadmium Telluride Solar Glass in Agricultural Applications

Adjustable Transmittance, Optimized Lighting Conditions: The biggest highlight of translucent CdTe solar glass is its adjustable transmittance. This feature allows crops to receive uniform light, fully conducting photosynthesis, thereby increasing growth rate and yield. Compared to the shading problems that traditional solar panels may cause, translucent CdTe solar glass effectively avoids the adverse effects of dense shade on crop growth by flexibly adjusting the transmittance.

Energy Self-Sufficiency, Enhanced Agricultural Efficiency: The new photovoltaic agricultural greenhouse integrates translucent CdTe solar glass, which not only provides suitable lighting conditions for crops but also provides energy support for the greenhouse's irrigation system, supplementary lighting equipment, and winter heating through photovoltaic power generation. This self-sufficient energy model not only improves the growth rate and yield of crops but also brings additional economic benefits to farmers.

Water Conservation and Efficiency Enhancement, Addressing Drought Challenges: In arid regions, agrivoltaic systems effectively reduce evaporation rates and maintain soil moisture, improving water resource utilization efficiency through the shading effect of solar panels. The application of translucent CdTe solar glass further optimizes this process, allowing crops to grow naturally even with reduced irrigation needs, providing new solutions for agricultural development in arid regions.

Crop Protection, Withstanding Extreme Weather: The integration of translucent CdTe solar modules creates a local microclimate for crops, effectively mitigating the impact of extreme weather events such as hail, wind, and excessive ultraviolet radiation. This protective effect not only reduces crop damage but also improves crop quality and yield.

Optimized Land Resource Allocation, Cost Reduction: The application of translucent CdTe solar glass makes it possible to install photovoltaic modules above existing orchards without changing land use to achieve power generation revenue. This model effectively improves land use efficiency, reduces the cost of the photovoltaic industry, and is highly consistent with the national promotion of green and environmentally friendly agricultural development.

Agrivoltaic Field Test

To verify the practical application effect of translucent CdTe solar glass in agrivoltaics, several field tests have been conducted globally. Among them, a study conducted in Colorado, USA, is particularly noteworthy. This study evaluated the impact of module transparency type on crop growth in an irrigated vegetable field environment, focusing on comparing the microclimate changes and crop yield responses under translucent CdTe modules, traditional opaque photovoltaic modules, and full sunlight control.

Experimental results showed that under Longyan Energy's 40% transmittance CdTe modules, the average yield of vegetables was equal to or higher than the control group. This result fully demonstrates the unique advantages of translucent CdTe solar glass in promoting crop growth.

Click to view: Empirical Study: The Impact of Translucent Photovoltaic Modules on Crop Yield

Translucent solar glass, especially translucent solar glass based on cadmium telluride thin-film technology, is becoming a new favorite in the agrivoltaic field due to its unique optical properties, excellent power generation performance, and environmental advantages. It not only solves the problems of traditional photovoltaic modules in agricultural applications but also brings multiple benefits to agricultural production.

With continuous technological advancements and cost reductions, translucent solar glass will be more widely used in the agrivoltaic field, leveraging a trillion-dollar market and injecting new impetus into the sustainable development of agriculture.