The choice of photovoltaic technology is crucial for efficient simultaneous crop and energy production, especially for tomato, one of the most economically significant greenhouse crops in arid and semi-arid regions. This study systematically compares four greenhouses: control (C), shading net (SC), and two commercially available semi-transparent PV technologies, monocrystalline silicon (PV-Si) and cadmium telluride thin-film (PV-TF). The effects of each configuration on light availability, microclimate, and yield were evaluated across two growing seasons. During the winter–spring cycle, only the C and PV-Si greenhouses maintained daily light integral (DLI) values above the minimum threshold required for optimal crop development. Despite a similar number of fruits, the PV-Si greenhouse produced fruits with a mean weight 25% higher than the control, which was attributed to more favourable nighttime air temperatures and higher soil moisture. In the spring–summer cycle, although all the treatments exceeded the critical DLI threshold, photosynthetic activity in the SC and PV-TF greenhouses was restricted during key periods of the photoperiod, resulting in reduced yields. In contrast, the checkerboard configuration of the PV-Si panels allowed sufficient light transmission throughout both cycles, preventing shade-avoidance responses and maintaining yield levels comparable to or exceeding the control. The PV-Si system generated a total of 726.8 kWh over the study period, outperforming the PV-TF system. PV-induced shading moderated springtime temperature fluctuations but was insufficient to mitigate peak summer temperatures. Overall, the PV-Si system effectively balanced solar radiation management, thermal regulation, and energy production, demonstrating its potential as a suitable technology for agrivoltaic applications.
Hernández et al. (2026) studied this question.