Heliene, UbiQD to partner on agriPV module development

• Solar supplier Heliene as well as US nanomaterials specialist UbiQD are to work together on PV modules targeted at the expanding 'agrivoltaic' sector.

A joint development agreement (JDA) signed by the business will see UbiQD's sunlight optimisation innovation for greenhouses, called UbiGro, combined with Heliene's US-made PV modules.

By incorporating both modern technologies for modules to be used on greenhouses, it's asserted the technology would raise plant production while at the same time creating power.

UbiQD's technology works by transforming straight ultraviolet as well as blue light from the spectrum of the sun's rays into light with an orange or red glow. This lights is stated to boost plant development.

Martin Pochtaruk, Chief Executive Officer of Heliene, claimed: "Greenhouses as well as photovoltaics create numerous billions of bucks of value from sunlight, and also our strategy is that with our agrivoltaic modules, the whole will certainly be above the sum of the parts."

Financial investment in agrivoltaics has actually been raising in the past months with Iberdrola, BayWa r.e. or Shell financing or getting various agriPV projects, meanwhile Germany lately introduced a campaign to sustain solar projects in agricultural land to assist the country reach its 200GW of set up solar capacity by 2030.

Last September, Heliene established a 400MW growth in its Minnesota plant to increase its mono PERC line, taking overall manufacturing capacity to 900MW.