A Photovoltaic Greenhouse with Variable Shading for the Optimization of Agricultural and Energy Production

The cultivation of plants in greenhouses currently plays a role of primary importance in modern agriculture, both for the value obtained with the products made and because it favors the development of highly innovative technologies and production techniques. An intense research effort in the field of energy production from renewable sources has increasingly led to the development of greenhouses which are partially covered by photovoltaic elements. The purpose of this study is to present the potentiality of an innovative prototype photovoltaic greenhouse with variable shading to optimize energy production by photovoltaic panels and agricultural production. With this prototype, it is possible to vary the shading inside the greenhouse by panel rotation, in relation to the climatic conditions external to the greenhouse. An analysis was made for the solar radiation available during the year, for cases of completely clear sky and partial cloud, by considering the 15th day of each month. In this paper, the results show how the shading variation enabled regulation of the internal radiation, choosing the minimum value of necessary radiation, because the internal microclimatic parameters must be compatible with the needs of the plant species grown in the greenhouses.