ISET Announces Commissioning of CIGS Array for LED Farming System
Low-cost Thin-Film PV Powers Innovative Green Agriculture Application
Gyeongsan, Korea -
International Solar Electric Technology, Inc. (ISET) has announced that it will supply printed thin-film CIGS modules to K&K Solar, a Korean specialty EPC provider, to power indoor LED farming systems. Under contract from the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government, a turnkey system using a CIGS array from ISET was commissioned in November, with commercial availability for the modular platform beginning from February.
K&K Solar has reported installation time for the LED produce cabinet plus PV array can be installed in one day and is easy to expand. Growing times are accelerated by optimal management of light and water to produce stronger, healthier crops with time-to-market of nearly 50% compared to conventional outdoor farming. Additional sustainability advantages include 90% reduction of water consumption, lower total energy consumption, compact footprint, and zero use of pesticides. Overall carbon footprint is conserved for locally grown greens by reducing dependence on transportation to enjoy fresh produce in all seasons.
“ ISET’s modules are a great fit for applications such as this, with high energy yield providing direct value to the economic productivity of the system,” Said Vincent Kapur, ISET’s Director of Manufacturing. “We are able to provide a cost-efficient PV module design that maximizes battery charging efficiency under prevailing Korean climate conditions.”
Kapur added, “The most rewarding aspect of this collaboration is that we have reintroduced the Sun as the source of light for the crops, maximizing the sustainability of the system for the end user.”
