Improved radicchio seedling growth under CsPbI3 perovskite rooftop in a laboratory-scale greenhouse for Agrivoltaics application

Spampinato, C., Valastro, S., Calogero, G. et al. Nat Commu, 16:2190 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56227-9

Researchers from Italy’s National Research Council (CNR-IMM) investigated semi-transparent perovskite solar cells (CsPbI₃:EuI₂) as greenhouse rooftops to boost radicchio seedling growth in agrivoltaic setups. Despite reduced total irradiance, seedlings under these perovskite modules exhibited accelerated growth, larger leaf areas, and adaptive gene expression changes beneficial to plant development. Using Fluxim's Setfos simulation software, the researchers demonstrated the feasibility of perovskite greenhouse rooftops to satisfy complete annual greenhouse energy needs, including lighting, irrigation, and climate control.

Setfos was employed to simulate the photovoltaic performance of the semi-transparent perovskite devices under realistic environmental conditions.

• Optical simulations validated the perovskite's spectral filtering effects, which contributed to improved plant growth.

• Device simulations showed annual photovoltaic energy production sufficient for greenhouse operational energy demands, highlighting both agronomic and energy-generation benefits.