Agrivoltaics

In a first for Japan, a pioneering experiment is underway to grow rice under a canopy of perovskite-based solar cells, targeting two of the nation’s most pressing challenges: food sustainability and clean energy.

The project officially began with a ceremonial rice planting on May 11 at Chiba University’s Kashiwanoha Campus in Kashiwa. It explores the concept of “solar sharing” by installing thin, flexible perovskite solar panels above a rice paddy. The initiative aims to generate electricity while cultivating crops on the same land, potentially increasing farm income while contributing to climate goals.

According to reports, a consortium in Japan is conducting an agrivoltaics pilot project involving film-type perovskite solar cells installed above rice paddies.

The initiative aims to examine energy generation alongside agricultural production. The project involves five partners: Sekisui Solar Film, Terra Inc, Himawari Green Energy, Chiba University, and Chiba Bank. Sekisui Solar Film supplies the solar cells, while Terra handles construction and maintenance. Himawari Green Energy is assessing business feasibility, and Chiba University is providing the fields and evaluating impacts on farming and crops. Chiba Bank offers financial support. 

Researchers from Italy's National Research Council - Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (CNR-IMM) and Cicci Research recently examined the viability and agronomic implications of the growth of radicchio seedlings (Cichorium intybus var. latifolium) in laboratory-scale greenhouses integrating semi-transparent perovskite-based solar cells as coatings on their roof. 

Image from Nature Communications

Traditional PV systems used in agricultural settings are made from silicon materials. The opaque nature of these solar cells can block sunlight reaching plants and hinder their growth. As such, there’s a need for advanced solar cells that can provide sufficient power but still enable plants to grow instead of casting a shadow over them.

Researchers from China's Westlake University, Advanced Solar Technology Institute of Xuancheng and Turkey's Marmara University have addressed the stability issues of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by developing a divalent cation replacement strategy that mitigates ionic migration while limiting phase segregation. 

Using the new method, the scientists fabricated a champion cell that showed a PCE of 23.20% (certified 22.71%) for a single-junction PSC with a bandgap between 1.67 eV and 1.68 eV. Furthermore, a PCE of 30.13% was obtained for mechanically stacked perovskite/Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ tandem devices, and a PCE of 21.88% for transparent perovskite devices. Finally, they obtained a steady-state PCE of 23.28% (certified 22.79%) for flexible monolithic perovskite/Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ tandem cells.

MicroQuanta has reportedly announced the successful grid connection of an 8.6 MW ground-mounted PV plant in Lishui, Zhejiang province, China. The plant in eastern China – the world's largest to be built with perovskite solar technology – focuses on agrivoltaics.

The facility sits on previously unused land in Songyang county and features 95,648 MicroQuanta α perovskite modules. The 90 W modules measure 1,245 mm x 635 mm and weigh 12.5 kg. The panels are tilted at a 22-degree angle, utilizing the terrain's natural slope. To allow agricultural use beneath the solar arrays, the lowest edge of the panels are elevated 2 meters off the ground.

An EU-funded Laperitivo project was launched earlier this month, focused on manufacturing large-area stable perovskite solar modules. Laperitivo stands for “large-area perovskite solar module manufacturing with high efficiency, long-term stability, and low environmental impact.” The project aims to achieve 22% efficiency for 900 cm² opaque panels and 20% for semi-transparent modules with more than 95% bifaciality.

The team will focus, among other things, on solving scalability challenges, to promote large-scale mass production with minimized losses. The abstract of the project’s EU funding paper also states that: “Indoor and outdoor field tests will be performed to monitor module reliability. Safety, circularity, and sustainability will be assessed to demonstrate products with minimized environmental impact.”

Sekisui Chemical and TERRA recently announced that they have commenced the first joint demonstration test in Japan to install film-type perovskite solar cells for agrivoltaics (solar sharing) at Sosa City, Chiba Prefecture on August 2, 2024.

Sekisui Chemical has created a 30 cm-wide roll-to-roll manufacturing process utilizing its original “sealing, film formation, materials and process technology,” and has reportedly confirmed 10 years equivalent of outdoor durability, which is critical to the development of film-type perovskite solar cells. Furthermore, this manufacturing process has been successfully used to produce film-type perovskite solar cells with a power generation efficiency of 15.0%. Development is being accelerated to further improve durability and power generation efficiency, as well as to establish manufacturing technology for 1 m-wide rolls.

A collaborative project by leading Helmholtz Centers for photovoltaic research aims to accelerate the deployment of multi-benefit photovoltaics based on emerging printed PV-Technologies like organic photovoltaics and perovskites. 

Core Lab Perovskite PV at KIT. Image from Solar TAP website

The Solar Technology Acceleration Platform (Solar TAP) for emerging Photovoltaics brings together 3 Helmholtz Centers, 9 major research infrastructures, and more than 25 scientists. The three Helmholtz centers are: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. They are aligning their world-class infrastructures in order to create the joint Technology Acceleration Platform and providing fast and simple access to laboratories, equipment and scientists through collaborative pre-financed projects.

PeroNova, a U.S.-based climate technology company, has announced its entrance into the renewable energy market, unveiling its perovskite technology. 

PeroNova claims to have achieved significant enhancements in the stability and reliability of perovskite films, which are critical factors for commercial viability. The Company plans to launch several pilot programs in the U.S. later this year. Specifically, it mentions a collaboration with real estate developers which will bring large-scale implementation of BIPV and agrivoltaics across the country.

As part of the Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced a $71 million investment in research, development, and demonstration projects to grow the network of domestic manufacturers across the U.S. solar energy supply chain. 

The selected projects will address gaps in the domestic solar manufacturing capacity for supply chain including equipment, silicon ingots and wafers, and both silicon and thin-film solar cell manufacturing. The projects will also open new markets for solar technologies such as dual-use photovoltaic (PV) applications, including building-integrated PV and agrivoltaics.