Eliminating the Tradeoffs Between Farming and Solar Energy Development: Testing Semi-Transparent Solar Cell Technology at U-M’s Campus Farm
Eliminating the Tradeoffs Between Farming and Solar Energy Development: Testing Semi-Transparent Solar Cell Technology at U-M’s Campus Farm
Eliminating the Tradeoffs Between Farming and Solar Energy Development: Testing Semi-Transparent Solar Cell Technology at U-M’s Campus Farm
Program: Catalyst Grants
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This research team–a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the U-M Campus Farm–successfully developed and tested semi-transparent organic photovoltaic (STOPV) panels that convert sunlight into electricity while allowing essential light to reach crops. After more than 1,400 hours of outdoor testing, the panels show strong potential to support both farming and clean energy production on the same land.
To align the technology with agricultural needs, this team’s engineers and farmers worked closely to determine the optimal light spectrum for four economically important Michigan crops: corn, soy, tomatoes, and cabbage. Red light (600-700 nanometers) proved most critical for crop growth, followed by specific bands of blue, green, and ultraviolet. The team fabricated prototype modules and installed them on the roof of the Gorguze Family Lab on North Campus. Outdoor testing confirmed the panels’ durability and consistent energy performance. These findings shaped the design of STOPV modules to promote plant health while maximizing energy production.
The project also established a testbed for ongoing agrivoltaic research and developed a scalable design framework adaptable to different crops, climates, and land uses. At U-M, this work helped shape the new Sustainable Energy Solutions course and sparked conversations between solar window manufacturer Next Energy and the Ross School of Business Innovation Team to explore commercial applications for transparent solar technologies. As demand for renewable energy grows, solar installations on farmland have raised tensions between food and energy production. This research offers a path forward–supported by a $900,000, three-year Department of Energy-funded project with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to continue advancing agrivoltaic technology.
This team received a $10,000 Catalyst Grant in 2023.
Project team: Stephen Forrest, PI (Engineering | U-M Ann Arbor); Jeremy Moghtader, Co-I (Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum | U-M Ann Arbor); Rachel Koltun, Co-I (Engineering | U-M Ann Arbor); Hafiz Sherrif, Co-I (Engineering | U-M Ann Arbor)
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