Solar Greenhouse Panel Arrangement & Crop Recommendations

Depending on the installation position and shading level of solar panels, solar greenhouses can be divided into three types: partially shaded, fully shaded, and unshaded layouts.

(1) Partially Shaded (Panels on the front roof)

This design is ideal for areas with distinct seasons or tropical regions with strong sunlight and large day-night temperature differences. Solar panels reduce excessive light during the day. Combined with thermal curtains at night and proper insulation, this setup is perfect for crops that prefer partial shade and moderate temperatures, such as leafy vegetables.

(2) Fully Shaded (Panels fully covering the front roof)

With minimal light reaching inside the greenhouse, temperature fluctuations are lower, making this setup ideal for shade-tolerant crops such as oyster mushrooms, enoki, white fungi, and medicinal herbs like ginseng and notoginseng. Supplemental LED lighting can also be installed to create a fully controlled environment similar to container farms.

(3) Unshaded (Panels on the north-facing wall or structure)

Here, the solar modules do not affect light transmission into the greenhouse, preserving the traditional crop environment. This setup is ideal for winter crop production in high-latitude areas. However, higher mounting heights require larger spacing between greenhouses to avoid shading adjacent structures, which may reduce land-use efficiency.

Recommended Crops

• Double-membrane greenhouses: Shiitake, oyster, and wood ear mushrooms
• Spring-Warm Solar Greenhouses:
  • Sun section: Asparagus, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, leaf vegetables, spinach
  • Shade section: Dendrobium, gastrodia, American ginseng
• Winter-Warm Solar Greenhouses:
  • Sun section: Tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, ornamental shrubs (e.g. golden-leaved maple), lilies, cut roses, gerberas
  • Shade section: Shiitake, oyster, wood ear mushrooms, and bean sprouts
• Brick-walled Solar Greenhouses: Tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, ornamental trees, lilies, cut roses, gerberas

Considerations for Solar Greenhouse Projects

1. Humidity & Corrosion Risks: Relative humidity often exceeds 60% inside greenhouses, leading to condensation on steel structures and films. This high-moisture environment can corrode photovoltaic panels, cables, junction boxes, and other electrical components, potentially reducing lifespan and creating electrical hazards.
2. Equipment Maintenance Challenges: Panels and inverters installed at heights of 2.7–4.5m can be difficult to access for inspection or repair, requiring specialized tools and trained technicians.
3. Design Complexity: Solar greenhouses require customized engineering. Achieving a standardized, modular design can be challenging.
4. Structural Lifespan Requirements: Greenhouse structures typically last 15 years, while solar plant designs require at least 25 years of service. Our team considers a 50-year lifespan for safety and sustainability, utilizing lightweight steel profiles such as cold-formed C-sections, Z-sections, and hat-shaped sections to reduce material cost while ensuring long-term stability.

At AgriNovix, we tailor every project to suit your specific needs — ensuring a durable, stable greenhouse structure that supports long-term agricultural productivity and sustainability.