New Tool Identifies Optimal Photovoltaic Materials for Agrisolar Performance

Scientists from Swansea University in the United Kingdom have developed a new tool to help identify optimal photovoltaic (PV) materials capable of maximizing crop growth while generating solar power in agrivoltaic installations. The team has developed an innovative freeware tool that predicts the light transmission, absorption, and power generation of different PV materials in nearly any location, using geographical, physical, and electrical measurements. Researchers report that by carefully selecting PV materials with specific bandgaps and absorption properties, it’s possible to fine-tune the color of light transmitted through semi-transparent PVs to hit the crops, which mainly absorb red and blue light to photosynthesize.