This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) phase II project will demonstrate a sustainable wavelength selective energy producing greenhouse covering that will provide a second harvest of electricity for greenhouse growers of vegetables and flowers. The greenhouse uses a proprietary method to selectively absorb only the green portion of the solar spectrum that is not used by plants and utilize this light to generate electricity. Plant growth is helped by controlling the spectrum of the light for most efficient growth. This cost effective and highly durable greenhouse cover will be tested in a commercial greenhouse growing environment.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be to reduce the energy required to produce food in the United States and lower the carbon footprint for greenhouse grown products. The greenhouse covering will help the rapidly growing local food industry by improving the economics of small scale greenhouse production and save natural resources by growing food close to where it is consumed. The commercialization of this product will create a completely new energy source that can pay for itself in 5 years and can also provide fresh flowers and vegetables to local consumers.
