Vertical Farming with Photovoltaics
To avoid long supply chains in food production there have long been plans to grow vegetables in urban areas. The concept of "vertical farming," i.e., the cultivation of agricultural products in multi-story buildings (tower greenhouses), conserves resources (reduced CO2emissions due to shorter transport routes to the end consumer, 95 percent lower water consumption, less need for fertilizers) and requires far less cultivation area. The first projects with tower greenhouses have been realized in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
The plants grow under artificial light, which requires more electricity than conventional agriculture. By selecting the right wavelengths during the growth period metabolic processes in the plant can be influenced and nutrient production, for example of carotene, can be stimulated.
The required electricity is to be generated e.g., by photovoltaics and other renewable energies to achieve a positive environmental effect.
Sources: pv-magazine, article from 10/08/2021: https://www.pv-magazine.de/2021/10/08/vertical-farming-mehr-photovoltaik-fuer-hoeheren-strombedarf/ (last access on 10/14/2021 at 11:30 a.m.)
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertikale_Landwirtschaft (last access on 10/14/2021 at 11:50 a.m.)