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Wavelength-selective solar photovoltaic systems to enhance spectral sharing of sunlight in agrivoltaics
Mälardalen University, School of Business, Society and Engineering, Future Energy Center.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4075-8855
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy.
Tarbiat Modares University, Iran.
National Research Council (CNR-IPSP), Italy.
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2024 (English)In: Joule, ISSN 2542-4351, Vol. 8, no 9, p. 2483-2522Article, review/survey (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Agrivoltaic systems offer a solution to the debate over using agricultural land for food production or energy conversion. Conventional silicon solar panels often shade plants excessively, impacting growth. Wavelength-selective photovoltaic (WSPV) technologies address this by allowing the transmission of beneficial wavelengths for photosynthesis while converting less useful ones into electricity. Wavelength selectivity can be achieved through various methods, such as by tuning photoactive layers, applying colored semi-transparent layers, utilizing mirrors and lenses, or designing spectrally selective luminophores. While evidence suggests that these technologies effectively share sunlight, many of them are yet to be fully implemented and evaluated. This review covers current WSPV technologies, discussing their classification, status, and future prospects. It also provides appropriate PV performance metrics for WSPV technologies in agricultural applications and advocates for standardized reporting practices in crop experiments conducted under WSPV systems, accompanied by practical suggestions. Solar cell efficiency limits under spectral sharing for crop production and the optimal band gap under varying levels of photosynthetically active radiation for crop growth are further examined as guidance for future development.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024. Vol. 8, no 9, p. 2483-2522
Keywords [en]
agrivoltaics, wavelength-selective PV, spectral splitting, spectral sharing, solar cell efficiency, solar cell technologies, photosynthesis, water-energy-food nexus
National Category
Energy Engineering
Research subject
Energy- and Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-68500DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2024.08.006ISI: 001318399100001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85207926135OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-68500DiVA, id: diva2:1900162
Funder
SOLVESwedish Energy Agency, 52693-1J. Gust. Richert stiftelse, 2022-00792Available from: 2024-09-23 Created: 2024-09-23 Last updated: 2026-01-20Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. A Solar Irradiance Journey into Agrivoltaics: From Light Quantity to Quality
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A Solar Irradiance Journey into Agrivoltaics: From Light Quantity to Quality
2026 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Agrivoltaics integrate agricultural activities with solar photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion on the same land, offering a promising solution to competing demands for food and renewable energy. However, agrivoltaic systems introduce complex interactions between PV installations and crops, primarily by altering both the quantity and quality of solar irradiance reaching the canopy. This thesis investigated solar irradiance in agrivoltaic systems from both broadband and spectral perspectives, combining modelling developments with experimental validation to improve system assessment and design. From a light-quantity perspective, the work advances methods for estimating photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), with a particular focus on its diffuse component, which is highly relevant for plant growth but rarely measured. Existing broadband irradiance decomposition models were adapted and evaluated for high-latitude conditions, demonstrating that performance depends strongly on local calibration and solar geometry. A new PAR decomposition model was developed and shown to outperform commonly used approaches under Nordic conditions. The results also highlighted a trade-off between model complexity and data availability, indicating that simpler models may be preferable when high-quality input data are limited. In parallel, the influence of ground albedo on irradiance and power output in bifacial PV systems was examined, revealing that ground-reflected irradiance can contribute substantially to plane-of-array irradiance, particularly under high-albedo conditions such as snow. Incorporating time-varying albedo significantly improves modelling accuracy compared to static assumptions. Beyond broadband irradiance, the thesis addressed spectral light management through novel wavelength-selective PV (WSPV) technologies. A classification framework for WSPVs in agricultural applications was developed to enable systematic comparison of spectral selectivity approaches and implementation pathways. To support implementation, spectral-aware modelling frameworks were developed to simulate light transmission through WSPVs and estimate leaf-level photosynthetic responses. These models were validated against experimental data and applied to assess crop suitability and optimise spectral transmittance across different climates to aid future designs. Based on current constraints, a higher transmission of blue and red wavelengths favoured crop productivity and full transparency within the PAR range was not required to sustain growth. Finally, the feasibility of WSPV-based agrivoltaics was demonstrated through a full-season, open-field experiment using semi-transparent magenta cadmium telluride thin-film PV modules, where crop yields were comparable to open-field conditions while radiation use efficiency and land-use productivity increased. Overall, this work advances the modelling and experimental foundations of agrivoltaics by improving irradiance assessment, integrating spectral effects, and validating emerging PV technologies under field conditions providing insights for researchers, industry, and policymakers.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Västerås: Mälardalen University, 2026
Series
Mälardalen University Press Dissertations, ISSN 1651-4238 ; 460
Keywords
Agrivoltaics, Albedo, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Decomposition Model, Wavelength-Selective PV, Semi-Transparent PV, Solar Irradiance
National Category
Energy Engineering
Research subject
Energy- and Environmental Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-75386 (URN)978-91-7485-747-4 (ISBN)
Public defence
2026-03-06, Delta, Mälardalens universitet, Västerås, 14:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2026-01-21 Created: 2026-01-20 Last updated: 2026-02-13Bibliographically approved

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Ma Lu, SilviaZainali, SebastianCampana, Pietro Elia

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