Solar Energy Harvesting Study Using Solar Cages and Sustainability

¹ ECE Department, Saginaw Valley State university, University Centre, MI, USA
² Biology Department, Saginaw Valley State university, University Centre, MI, USA
³ Physics Department, Saginaw Valley State university, University Centre, MI, USA

^* Corresponding author: mkhan126@svsu.edu

Abstract

Renewable energies have gained much attention and have expanded their consumption for the positive impact on the cost and the climate across the globe in modern times. Solar energy is one efficient and safer option; however, solar energy harvesting sites, irrespective of the location, can impact the ecosystem. The primary aims of the experimental study are to explore the energy harvest and the energy remaining in a harvesting cage in terms of light intensity and power. Novel flexible miniature solar cages have been designed and built for the study. The study focuses on designing and building structures, called solar cages, to harvest solar energy through customized connected photovoltaic, PV, cells, and exploring the energy remaining in the solar cage for specific shapes to provide convenient access to it for plantation. Two different structures have been presented to show the variations of illumination intensity inside the cages. The latest structure has shown a significant, 24%, reduction of energy inside the cage. Eventually, the outcomes from the models can potentially be utilized to predict the possible impact on a biological system residing inside the built cages, which can be utilized for practical farming with sustainable energy harvesting.