May 3 2010
Renewable energy company Solar ReFeel announced today, that as part of a research activity together with CeRSAA and solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, a test site using Solyndra’s photovoltaic solutions has been constructed at CeRSAA’s Albenga, Italy facility. The project seeks to optimize the production of both food and electricity and to validate the crop growth benefits of Solyndra’s technology with independent testing by a leading agricultural research institution.
The project covers an area of 400 square meters at the CeRSAA research center, where Solyndra’s photovoltaic systems have been integrated into the greenhouse structures. Solyndra’s unique cylindrical technology captures direct, diffuse, and reflected sunlight across a 360 degree surface while allowing uniform transmission of light for the plants below. The study will measure and evaluate the production of several crops common in the Mediterranean region when grown under the greenhouse structures with the integrated solar system. Ongoing research activity will quantify and compare the yield and the expected benefit for crops grown under Solyndra’s new, integrated greenhouse structures with those same plants grown in conventional greenhouses.
The project is designed to last for 24 months, during which time the partners will contribute their strong expertise in their respective fields. CeRSAA, special agency of the Chamber of Commerce of Savona, will provide expertise in design and implementation of agricultural studies and will also provide technical and human resources. Solyndra, the United States based producer of solar systems, supplied the greenhouse framework, photovoltaic components, and supervised construction of the test site. Installation support and electrical contracting was provided by Enerqos Group, a leader in the design and implementation of PV systems in Italy. Solar ReFeel, an operator active in the development of both ground-mounted and rooftop photovoltaic plants, has coordinated the research amongst the involved parties. Solar ReFeel will share the research findings and ultimately has plans to commercialize the successful product. The goal of the study is to fully understand and take advantage of the extraordinary potential of greenhouse integrated solar power development as a long-term, substantial business model.
Source: http://www.refeel.eu/