2026: Enhancing Crop Market Values by Utilizing Self-Sustained LED Supplemental Lighting in Agrivoltaic Systems
This project explores extending strawberry growing seasons at agrivoltaic solar farms by integrating LED supplemental lighting with solar infrastructure. The system utilizes low-intensity night-interruption lighting to address short-day photoperiod limitations during shoulder seasons, enhancing flowering and productivity in otherwise unproductive periods. Two undergraduate researchers, mentored by Cornell faculty and a Ph.D. student, will design a field test bed and conduct experiments to evaluate this self-sustaining, cost-effective solution. The research will provide insights into optimizing solar farm operations for agricultural use, contributing to sustainable food production, and informing the design of Cornell’s planned on-campus research solar farm.
Faculty Lead: Max Zhang (Cornell Duffield Engineering / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)
Faculty Collaborators: Neil Mattson (Cornell CALS / School of Integrative Plant Science) and Samantha Willden (Cornell CALS / Entomology / Cornell Agritech)
Graduate Student Mentor: Mike Liao (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)