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This isn't as big a problem as you would think. It's actually theoretically possible for a combination of solar cells and LEDs to increase the amount of usable
by exelius 11y ago
This isn't as big a problem as you would think. It's actually theoretically possible for a combination of solar cells and LEDs to increase the amount of usable energy delivered to the plant: plants absorb light in the red and blue parts of the spectrum, and reflect green light. A solar cell can capture light energy across the entire spectrum and convert it to electricity, then the LED grow lights output an optimized spectrum.
It's not possible today; but by converting green light to red through solar cells and LEDs, it will eventually be possible to deliver more light to the plants than they would have received from the sun.
Also, vertical farming allows you to build a solar array somewhere sunny and transmit the electricity to an urban area. So rather than having a farm there, you would have a solar farm that transmits energy to a vertical farm in the city. Again; this is many years off, but vertical farming and solar power go hand-in-hand. What we build today doesn't make a lot of sense commercially, but as a species we absolutely need to invest in unprofitable vertical farming projects because in 100 years, they may be our only reliable way to farm food.
- maliker 11y agoI would like to see some math on this solar + LED combination. Solar PV is 16% efficient now. So the LEDs would have to put out light at least 6 times better than sunlight to break even. Not to mention the LEDs+PV cost money, whereas the sunlight is free.
- TTPrograms 11y ago"theoretically possible" You need higher efficiency solar, which is feasible with non PV techniques.
- maliker 11y agoSome of the latest PV is getting pretty good [1]. How much better is the light from LEDs than sunlight? [1] http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/372352/22413458/1365584280200/efficiency_chart.jpg?token=YmjjAMNcgNjZQIEiq81a78mVnFE%3D http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/372352/22413458/136558...
- exelius 11y agoCompletely true! I'm speaking about whatever tech we will have in a few decades; we're definitely not there right now. Vertical farming is currently a very niche industry, and will remain that way for some time. But eventually, the technology will catch up, and vertical farming solves a lot of problems we're very likely to have given our current trajectory (loss of farmland due to climate change, water shortages, soil contamination, etc).