Energy management strategies for commercial greenhouses
2014
Vadiee, Amir | Martin, Viktoria
Growth in population and the ever-increasing development of new production technology leading to rising energy use in the agricultural industry. Although the greenhouse is one of the most energy intensive sectors in the agricultural industry, it is important because of its ability to intensify production. This paper has assessed energy management strategies (including single and combined energy conservation opportunities), with special emphasis on Nordic climates, where fossil fuel-based heating is still significant, despite a recent conversion to biomass boilers.The results show that the “Double thermal screen” and “Double glazing” with 60% reduction in energy demand are the most effective single opportunity for energy conservation. However, the highest improvement (80%) is obtainable using the closed greenhouse concept, with a potential payback of 5–6years under favorable conditions. It can be concluded that some of the single opportunities can be more practical in terms of their PBP in comparison to a complex concept, requiring a combination of measures, such as the closed greenhouse.
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