A translucent solar module assembly for integration with a greenhouse having a frame with a plurality of roof supports includes a pair of brackets attachable to each of the plurality of roof supports, a bi-facial solar panel attachable to the pair of brackets, and a pair of reflector rails attachable to each of the plurality of roof supports. A dichroic reflector is attachable to the pair of reflector rails.

A plant growing apparatus is disclosed that enables users to grow edible vegetation and other plants in all climates and year round. The plant growing apparatus includes a framework, a solar assembly coupled to said framework at a predetermined angle, the solar assembly including at least one photovoltaic panel operable to receive solar energy. A planting bed is coupled to said framework. A lighting assembly is connected to the photovoltaic panel and operably directed to emit light toward said planting bed. The plant growing apparatus includes a watering assembly having a misting conduit in fluid communication with a water source and positioned proximate the photovoltaic panel and defining an aperture and a wiper assembly operably coupled to said at least one photovoltaic panel, said wiper assembly including a pulley system and a wiper blade movable along the photovoltaic panel when said pulley system is actuated.

One variation of method for monitoring growth of plants within a facility includes: aggregating global ambient data recorded by a suite of fixed sensors, arranged proximal a grow area within the facility, at a first frequency during a grow period; extracting interim outcomes of a set of plants, occupying a module in the grow area, from module-level images recorded by a mover at a second frequency less than the first frequency while interfacing with the module during the period of time; dispatching the mover to autonomously deliver the module to a transfer station; extracting interim outcomes of the set of plants from plant-level images recorded by the transfer station while sequentially transferring plants out of the module at the conclusion of the grow period; and deriving relationships between ambient conditions, interim outcomes, and final outcomes from a corpus of plant records associated with plants grown in the facility.

A power generation plant includes a support structure formed by supporting piles aligned fastened to the ground, such structure being a bi-dimensional structure placed on an agricultural land, with any orientation. The power generation plant further includes a handling system for solar energy receptor devices placed on the piles arranged in a row, adapted to allow the handling of such devices around at least a first axis. The plant also includes one or more greenhouses for intensive cultivation of agricultural products, on the ground beneath such receptor devices, between rows of adjacent piles.

A strut and method using same is provided. The strut comprises a body member having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end. A first gripping member is connected to the first end of the body member. The first gripping member comprises a first plate for engaging a first structural engagement member. A second gripping member is connected to the second end of the body member. The second gripping member comprises a second plate for engaging a second structural member. The body member of the strut extends in a direction to intercept each of the first and second plates.

A solar module assembly includes a frame having an upper portion encompassing an area and a mid portion disposed below the upper portion. A plurality of solar panels is arranged in a string, sandwiched between two transparent panes forming a single string panel. The solar panels occupy less than the area of the upper portion. Each of the plurality of solar panels has a pair of opposing edges. A reflector is mounted on the mid portion to reflect light selectively.

A grow box comprises a box body and a cover which are matched with each other; a planting unit arranged on the grow box for planting plants; a nutrient solution supply unit comprising a nutrient solution storage chamber and an atomizer, and the nutrient solution is supplied to the roots of the plants under the condition that the plants lack nutrient solution, wherein the nutrient solution storage chamber is constructed as a part of box body space which is separated from the box body by a partition plate. The present invention further discloses a plant grower using the same grow box with a supporting device. In addition, various sensors are arranged in the grow box and the plant grower to perform automatic induction without the need of manual operation, so that the pleasure and the simplicity of planting are enhanced.

A solar-powered system includes a support portion; and an evaporation portion having a pumping layer and a photothermal layer. The support portion pumps a fluid to the evaporation portion, the pumping layer evaporates the fluid based on solar power; and the photothermal layer is insulated from the pumping layer.

A semi-automated crop production system featuring a growing module with grids of cells for growing plants and a lighting and airflow fixture positioned above each cell. The lighting and airflow fixtures feature a fan disposed in a housing, a light emitting diode (LED) assembly board comprising LEDs disposed below the fan; a light diffuser disposed below the LED assembly board, and an adjustable airflow nozzle extending downwardly from the fan and protruding through the LED assembly board and the light diffuser. The adjustable airflow nozzle provides directed airflow downwardly toward a bottom area of the housing. The growing module and lighting and airflow fixtures are housed in a shell. The growing module may be slidably attached to the interior wall of the shell via mounting components.

A method and apparatus are provided that combine solar technology and agriculture in a symbiotic relationship that optimizes revenue from both sources. An array of reconfigurable solar collector assemblies is deployed in a crop field. As various crops benefit from varying degrees of shade through their development cycles, and are prone to damage from high winds and hail, the array of adaptable, reconfigurable solar collectors is deployed in the crop field and allows for the easy reconfiguration of each solar collector assembly to vary the amount of shade that is applied to the crops below the assembly, and to provide maximum hail and wind protection when necessary.