UNSW Develops Spectrally Selective Solar Modules for Agrivoltaics

⚡ AI Executive Summary

Researchers at the University of New South Wales have created semi-transparent crystalline silicon solar modules that selectively transmit visible light to crops while redirecting near-infrared radiation to photovoltaic cells for electricity generation. Using distributed Bragg reflector technology and v-groove concentrators, the modules maintain high light transmission for photosynthesis while significantly boosting power output compared to conventional semi-transparent designs. This innovation addresses a fundamental mismatch in agrivoltaic systems: crops require only the photosynthetically active radiation spectrum (400–700 nm), yet traditional semi-transparent modules waste near-infrared wavelengths that silicon cells convert efficiently to electricity. By intelligently separating the solar spectrum, these modules could improve land-use efficiency in agriculture while reducing water consumption through lower crop surface temperatures—a critical advantage in semi-arid regions. The approach combines established dichroic optics from building applications with standard PV manufacturing, potentially shortening the path to commercial deployment and making dual-use agrivoltaics economically viable at scale.