ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A new approach to solar energy and recycling could soon change the way food is grown. At UNC Asheville, researchers are developing lightweight solar panels that can be built directly into greenhouses.

“Traditionally, plastics have a pretty bad rep for their role in the environment and one thing we do is we design some really cool special plastics that can be used as solar panels,” Jeromy Rech, chemistry and biochemistry assistant professor at UNC Asheville, said.

The project aims to give plastics a new role by creating a fully recyclable biopolymer system that could be used on Earth and in outer space.

“The core goal of this project is we can take plants, break them down into individual starting materials and use that to synthesize more materials that we can make solar panels out of. We’d be able to provide both food and energy in a renewable type of fashion,” Rech said.

According to Rech, the semi-transparency of these materials allows plants to grow directly under the solar panels, making them ideal for greenhouses.

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“The idea of being able to integrate a solar panel on a greenhouse to provide all the heating, the cooling and the hydroponics, all the energy needs for that greenhouse can be able to provide food that helps change the growing cycle,” Rech said.

The long-term goal is to adapt the technology for space applications.

A UNC Asheville project aims to give plastics a new role by creating a fully recyclable biopolymer system that could be used on Earth and in outer space. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)

“If you wanted to bring solar panels into space, that’s extremely expensive because of how heavy they are. If we can make solar panels out of plastic, they are extremely light and really easy to transport,” Rech said.

The project recently received a $60,000 grant from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. Rech said the funding allows the team to plan for long-term development.

“This funding is for one year and designed to show that this can work and then ultimately five years from now we’d be able to have a more fully fleshed out design,” he said.

The research at UNC Asheville is being carried out entirely by undergraduate students and will continue when classes start in January.

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