Integration of solar technology to modern greenhouse in China: Current status, challenges and prospect

Given the threat of environmental degradation and land deterioration to conventional agriculture, modern greenhouse cultivation has attracted increasing attention as an effective alternative. However, the high energy consumption of greenhouse systems is concerning given the need to limit the environmental impact of human activities. The solar integration to agricultural greenhouse in the form of modern solar greenhouse has the potential to simultaneously respond to the declining availability of suitable land and the imperative for minimum emissions. In this review, an overview of China's progress towards the development of modern solar greenhouses, as well as the attempts to mitigate the effects of heat loss, shadowing, and poor light condition is presented. A promising prospect is shown by China's modern solar greenhouses at present levels of performances and costs exemplified by the photovoltaic (PV) greenhouses with a practicable payback period of less than 9 years. Additionally, application of advanced solar technology for better thermal storage, PV power generating and light utilization balance has been proved effective to further promote solar energy utilization in modern solar greenhouses.