Project Grant 20233353039686

A LARGE NUMBER OF GREENHOUSES USE SOLAR POWER IN A PASSIVE FASHION - LETTING SUNLIGHT PASS THROUGH TRANSPARENT PLASTICCOVER OR GLASSES. HOWEVER, THE MAXIMIZED SUNLIGHT DOES NOT TURN TO THE MAXIMIZED PRODUCTION FOR LOW-LIGHT PLANTS, SUCH AS LETTUCE, ASPARAGUS, CABBAGE, ETC. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE COSTS FOR MAINTAINING TEMPERATURES INA GREENHOUSE CAN REPRESENT AS MUCH AS 30% OF THE VARIABLE COSTS ANNUALLY OF WHICH ALMOST75% IS JUST FORHEATING AND ABOUT 15% GOES TOWARD ELECTRICITY. IN ADDITION, RELYING ON FOSSIL FUELS AS THE MAIN SOURCES TO HEAT THE GREENHOUSES CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCUMULATED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND GLOBAL WARMING EFFECT.THIS PROJECT STUDIES A PROPOSED GREENHOUSE THAT UTILIZES SOLAR PANELS COUPLED WITH GEOTHERMAL ENERGY FOR THE DUAL SYNERGETIC BENEFITS OF: 1) IMPROVED ENERGY HARVESTING AND MANAGEMENT TOWARD ZERO-NET-ENERGY AGRICULTURE, 2) CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL AGRICULTURE (CEA) WITH LIGHT, TEMPERATURE AND MOISTURE FOR IMPROVED PLANT PRODUCTION. THE ADVANCED BUILDING INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC-THERMAL (BIPVT) PANELS WITH PARTIAL TRANSPARENT SOLAR CELL COVERAGE ARE INSTALLED ON THE SOUTH-FACING ROOF OF A SOLAR GREENHOUSE TO GENERATE PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) ELECTRICITY AND COLLECT HEAT; THE ELECTRICITY CAN BE STORED IN A BATTERY ARRAY FOR ELECTRICITY BACKUP AND DIRECTLY USED FOR EXTENDED LED LIGHT FOR LETTUCE GROWTH; A PASSIVE BI-DIRECTIONAL GEOTHERMAL HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM STORESHEAT IN SUMMER AND RELEASE IN WINTER BY A SMART THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND; THE SENSING AND CONTROL SYSTEM WILL MONITOR ENERGY USAGE AND DISTRIBUTION FOR SMART OPERATION. THE ADVANCED GREENHOUSE PROPOSED IN THIS PROJECT NOT ONLY RESULTS IN LOW-COST ANDSUSTAINABLE PLANT PRODUCTION WITH IMPROVED QUALITYBUT ALSO CONTRIBUTES THE PATH TOWARD ZERO-EMISSION AGRICULTURE.