Recent scholarly research highlights the economic and environmental costs associated with greenhouse crop cultivation. However, because greenhouses are crucial for increasing product yield in tightly controlled climates, it’s not a cultivation technique farmers can live without. To shed light on the issue, transparent organic photovoltaic solar innovator NextGen Nano has highlighted how the production of solar-powered glazing for greenhouse windows can help contribute to a sustainable future.
NextGen Nano states that growers can generate electricity and simultaneously cultivate crops while reducing their environmental impact. A recent report published in 2021 outlines how organic solar glazing in greenhouses can fulfil the high electricity demands, while not reducing the crop yield.
“Greenhouses are used in crop cultivation because they increase product yield in tightly controlled climates. However, windows often have poor thermal insulation, so heating and ventilation systems must be installed to help maintain optimal conditions,” explained Franky So, CTO of NextGen Nano.
“Along with lighting systems, this leads to unsustainable energy consumptions and costly energy bills. University research has supported this, with a recent video by the University of Michigan claiming energy usage is the second largest operational expense in commercial greenhouse crop cultivation,” continued So.
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