Keeping the greenhouse hot in winter using electricity and gas can increase your utility bills. Are you looking for an environment-friendly and cost-effective solution for the greenhouse? If yes, then, a solar panel greenhouse can be a good solution for you.
What is a solar panel greenhouse?
A greenhouse that has integrated solar panels is known as a solar panel greenhouse. It generates electricity from sun rays to keep the greenhouse warm during winter and rainy seasons. Its main purpose is to combine agricultural production with renewable energy generation.
This is a sustainable solution for farming or horticulture. Let’s find out more about it!
Components of a Solar Panel Greenhouse
Solar panel greenhouse is a combined system of various components, which are as follows:
Solar photovoltaic panels: These are an important part of the solar greenhouse. These photovoltaic panels absorb solar radiation and convert the light energy to electric energy. The panels generate direct current (DC) when sunlight touches them. The amount of electricity a panel can generate depends on the type and placement of the panel.
Solar battery storage: To store the excess solar power generated by solar panels and keep the greenhouse warm during the night, you need a solar battery. BLUETTI solar generators and batteries can be a good option to store excess solar power to use in an emergency.
Solar inverter: Once the solar panels generate DC electricity, then it needs to pass to the inverter to convert it to AC. This is because most Solar greenhouses run on AC electricity. Therefore, the solar inverter is a must and should be attached to your solar panel greenhouse system.
Benefits of Solar Panel Greenhouses
Here are some amazing benefits of solar panel greenhouses:
More crops, more profit: Having a solar-powered greenhouse provides optimal temperature to plants in colder months and increases favorable seasons for crops. It allows you to grow crops in colder months and helps you earn more profit by selling them in the market.
A step towards sustainable living: Sunlight is a renewable energy source and is one of the important elements for solar panel greenhouse. So, by adopting this technology, you can contribute to sustainable living by reducing carbon footprints.
Low maintenance: One of the best benefits of solar-powered greenhouses is their low maintenance requirements. Once solar panels are installed, they need minimum upkeep and can work for more than 25 years without any issues. An occasional check from the technical team is enough.
Cost-effective solution: Having an electric or gas-heated greenhouse can put a hole in your pocket. Both electricity and gas are expensive fuels, and you may end up paying huge utility bills. But, with solar panel greenhouses, this is not the case. For this, you only need to pay once during installation, and after that, there is no need to pay the electricity bill.
Energy storage: Solar systems often come with options to store the excess energy. And, you can use this stored energy during the time when the sun isn’t shining enough to power the greenhouse. Also, you can use the stored energy to power lights, heaters, and other equipment in your home.
Factors Affect Solar Panel Greenhouse Cost
Here are some common factors that affect the solar panel greenhouse cost:
Area of greenhouse: The first thing that affects the cost of a greenhouse solar panel system is the area to be covered for solar energy. You need to choose the area for the greenhouse carefully so that sun rays can reach easily and make the solar panels effective to use. The less the area, the less will be the cost. More area, more cost. But, this will be a one-time cost that you have to pay for the installation of a solar panel greenhouse.
Number of solar panels installed: Another factor that decides the cost of a solar panel greenhouse is the number of solar panels to be installed to cover the required area. A system with 10 solar panels will cost less than a system with 20 solar panels.
Type of PV panels: For greenhouse solar panels, there are various options available to choose from for photovoltaic panels. Some of these options are monocrystalline solar cells, polycrystalline solar cells, and thin film solar cells. And, different types have different prices for similar requirements.
Average Solar Panel Greenhouse Costs in 2023
A variety of factors influence the overall costs of solar panel greenhouse. These days, solar-powered greenhouses have become increasingly popular as an option for sustainable living. Also, it is a cost-effective solution to run a greenhouse for years. On average, solar panels for a greenhouse can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 or more per kilowatt (kW) of capacity.
Professional Cost vs. DIY Cost
You can either call professionals for installation or can do it yourself.
If you choose to install solar panels in the greenhouse yourself, you can save on labor costs. However, you'll need to buy the tools and equipment to install the panels properly. DIY installations can be more affordable upfront, but come with challenges like potential warranty and performance risks.
On the other hand, professional installation may cost you a little more, but it ensures the safe and secure installation of a solar panel greenhouse. Also, it comes with a warranty and causes no harm to your panels.
Therefore, we recommend you get professional help for installing a solar panel greenhouse.
Passive Solar Greenhouses vs. Solar Panel Greenhouse
Choosing the best method to harness solar energy in your greenhouse depends on various factors, including your budget, the size of your greenhouse, geographical location, and your specific utility needs.
Passive solar greenhouse is a great option if you're looking for a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution. They're particularly effective in areas with plenty of sunlight and mild winters. However, they require careful design and planning to be effective.
Solar panel greenhouse is versatile and can provide a consistent electricity supply for your greenhouse systems. They're a good choice if you need to power various devices and systems in your greenhouse. However, they require a significant initial investment.
Solar Generator with Solar Panels to Power Greenhouse
Here are some best solar generators with solar panels to power a greenhouse.
BLUETTI AC500 + B300S
To power your greenhouse, you can use BLUETTI AC500 + B300S. This unit has two components: first BLUETTI AC500, an inverter with 10,000-watt output power, and second BLUETTI B300S, a power storage unit with a capacity of 3,072 Wh. Its 120-volt socket with 50 amps allows you to power your entire greenhouse up to 7,320 watts via a single port.
Also, if in the future you expand your greenhouse, then you can also expand this system based on your need for power. Due to its modular design, you can use BLUETTI AC 500 + B300S in a semi-mobile manner.
Specifications:
- 5,000W Rated Power (10,000W Surge)
- Expand from 3,072Wh to 18,432Wh
- LiFePO4 Battery
- Smart APP Control
- 6 Ways to Recharge
- 16 Versatile Outlets
- 24/7 UPS Backup
- 4-Year Warranty
BLUETTI AC300 + 2*B300
The BLUETTI AC300 + 2*B300 is a great option solution for your off-grid power needs for the greenhouse. AC300 has a 3,000W AC inverter (6,000W surge) has a 3,072Wh battery capacity.
You can scale it with the help of 4 × B300 expansion packs to get 12,288Wh battery capacity according to your needs. It features a premium LiFePO4 battery with 3,500+ life cycles to 80%. You can directly recharge this station with (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/Lead-acid Battery/Dual AC/AC+Solar). Also, it has around 16 output ports for initiating direct and simultaneous charging of several appliances.
Also, it comes with a smart app control feature using which you can track power usage on a daily basis. Further, the 24/7 UPS backup makes it the perfect solar power backup system for your greenhouse. This solar generator for greenhouse backup is sure to handle all your electricity needs.
Specifications:
- 3,000W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter
- 3,072Wh Capacity (Expandable Capacity/ up to 4 × B300 for 12,288Wh)
- LiFePO4 Battery
- 240V Split Phase Bonding
- 24/7 UPS Home Backup
- 7 Ways to Recharge
- 2400W Max. Solar Input
5400W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC)
BLUETTI AC200MAX + 2*B230
If you are looking for a solar generator with more storage, then the BLUETTI AC200MAX + 2*B230 is a great option for you. It can run your greenhouse without any issues as it contains a 2048 Wh battery. One of the best parts of the AC200MAX is that you can expand its capacity by using optional, hot-swappable expansion batteries.
Specifications:
- 2,200W AC inverter (4,800W Surge)
- 2,048Wh capacity
- LiFePO₄ battery
- Expandable up to 6,144Wh or 8,192Wh
- 7 Ways to Recharge
- 900W Max. Solar Input
- 1400W Max. fast dual charging
Final Thoughts
Maintaining the right temperature in the greenhouse is very important for crops. So, investing in a solar panel greenhouse is a good option to keep it warm during cold winters or in the rainy season. You may have to pay a good amount for installing solar panels, but after installation, your utility bills will decrease and help you save money. So, choose any of the above-mentioned solar generators for your greenhouse. All the BLUETTI products are safe to use and reliable to power your greenhouse and other home appliances.
