A Swedish research team has successfully combined solar power generation with broccoli cultivation on a single plot of farmland. Semi-transparent purple solar panels that allow only the light wavelengths needed for photosynthesis to pass through while generating electricity boosted land-use efficiency by 18%, according to the findings.
A team led by Professor Pietro Elia Campana at Mälardalen University reported in the international journal Cell Reports Physical Science that broccoli grown beneath semi-transparent cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film solar panels absorbed sunlight more efficiently than in open fields. This marks the world’s first demonstration in a standard open-field setting that solar power generation capable of selecting wavelengths suitable for plants can simultaneously produce electricity and grow crops.
Conventional silicon solar panels are dark blue and opaque, casting shade that makes crop cultivation underneath difficult. The purple semi-transparent panels developed by the research team allow blue light (400–500 nm) and red light (600–700 nm)—the wavelengths chlorophyll requires for photosynthesis—to pass through to the crops below. Each solar panel measured 20 meters on each side.
In the 2024 cultivation trial, broccoli grown beneath the solar panels took 104 days to reach harvest due to reduced sunlight exposure, compared with 79 days in open fields. Final yields, however, were comparable. The weight and size of harvested broccoli showed no significant difference from open-field cultivation.
The broccoli exhibited an adaptive response, producing more leaves as light levels decreased to maximize photosynthetic efficiency. Under panels with 50% light transmittance, light-use efficiency increased by up to 4.5 times, while under 70% transmittance conditions it rose by 2.8 times.
The semi-transparent panels also served as a moisture barrier. Water evaporation from the broccoli decreased during the day, maintaining higher relative humidity. The research team explained that in hot, dry environments, the solar panels reduced crop water loss and climate stress.
Broccoli grown beneath the solar panels showed no significant nutritional differences from open-field cultivation. Macronutrients including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and nitrogen were comparable to or even higher than open-field levels. However, micronutrients such as copper, iron, zinc, and manganese, along with water-soluble carbohydrates, were somewhat lower than in open-field crops.
The key metric highlighted by the research team is land-use efficiency. Combining solar power generation with crop cultivation enables the same output using 18% less land than dedicating the area to a single purpose. The calculation shows that one hectare of dual-use land produces output equivalent to 1.18 hectares of single-purpose land.
The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the cadmium telluride thin-film panels was 7.2%—roughly 30% of the 20%-plus efficiency achieved by silicon panels. However, because the panels can be installed at low tilt angles and densely arranged, actual power output reached 69.1% of the theoretical maximum. Crop yields were 81.8% of open-field levels, and productivity factoring in the 40% land loss from panel framing was calculated at 49.2% relative to conventional farming.
The semi-transparent solar panels are expected to be applicable to crops beyond broccoli. Researchers at Colorado State University reported in 2024 that a variety of crops—including turnips, basil, lettuce, bok choy, ginger, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and tomatoes—maintained or even increased yields beneath semi-transparent solar panels.
Professor Campana noted that electricity generated by the panels could be used for irrigation or cold storage, reducing farmers’ electricity bills and creating an additional income source. He cautioned, however, that the system tested remains at the prototype stage and requires longer-term cultivation trials at a larger scale.
The installation of solar panels on farmland has been a contentious issue amid the push for renewable energy expansion. Proponents argue it puts idle land to productive use, while critics warn that reduced farmland could threaten food security. This study is notable for demonstrating the technical feasibility of achieving both objectives simultaneously.
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