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Low Carbon Technologies for Greenhouse Horticulture What are the options for Growers in the UK?

Low Carbon Technologies for Greenhouse Horticulture What are the options for Growers in the UK?. Chris Plackett FEC Services Ltd. Topics. Results from two recent HDC projects PC256 A review of closed greenhouse technology PC265 Biomass heating systems. Closed Greenhouse Technologies.

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Low Carbon Technologies for Greenhouse Horticulture What are the options for Growers in the UK?

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  1. Low Carbon Technologies for Greenhouse HorticultureWhat are the options for Growers in the UK? Chris Plackett FEC Services Ltd

  2. Topics • Results from two recent HDC projects • PC256 • A review of closed greenhouse technology • PC265 • Biomass heating systems

  3. Closed Greenhouse Technologies • Interesting concepts • Complex engineering solutions • Impressive headlines • Commercially, where are they now? • Do they offer anything to growers in the UK?

  4. Where is the technology now? • Themato project has been a flagship • Successfully grown tomatoes • Moved to other crops - strawberry • Commercial focus now on ‘semi-closed’ greenhouses • Similar advantages • Reduced investment • Lower risk?

  5. What about the UK? • Aquifer thermal energy storage is not viable • No other commercially attractive energy storage options currently exist • But! • Air handling / heating technology has good potential

  6. How Does ‘Semi Closed’ Work?

  7. Air Movement Technology • The Benefits • Uniform greenhouse conditions • temperature, humidity & CO2 • More efficient heating? • Better response • Use low grade heat • Increased opportunities to use alternative heat supplies

  8. Fan & Duct Systems

  9. New HDC Project – PC278 • Adapting the Dutch approach …… • And doing it better! • Meeting the needs of the UK grower • R&D with a commercial installation • 1Ha Tomato Nursery • Side by side comparison with conventional system • Partnership between • HDC • Mill Nursery Ltd • Industry suppliers

  10. Project Objectives • Reduce energy use & cost • Reduce CO2 emissions • Expand the opportunities to use alternative heat sources • Improve yield & quality • Reduce disease incidence & the use of crop protection chemicals

  11. Project Status • Installation complete • Work ongoing • 4 year project • Look out for results • All of the normal HDC communications routes • Website for HDC members

  12. Summary – Sealed Greenhouses • Not likely to be economic in the UK • Aquifer thermal storage not widely available • Long paybacks • ‘Semi-sealed’ offers better opportunities • Air movement technology • Opportunities for ‘low grade’ heat • A new HDC Project is investigating the potential • PC 278

  13. What about biomass heating? • Options? • Wood pellets • Miscanthus • Wood chip • Straw

  14. One Potential Problem • CO2 enrichment • not currently commercially available • What impact does this have on boiler utilisation? • What are the alternatives?

  15. Options for CO2 enrichment • Pure CO2 • Not currently economic • Biomass for winter heating only? • Heat with biomass when CO2 demand is low • Use mains gas to produce CO2 in summer

  16. What size boiler? • Choose the biggest possible? • Satisfy peak winter heat demand • Low output most of the year • Smaller boiler? • Won’t meet all of the heat demand but… • Lower capital cost • Higher utilisation

  17. Heat Storage • Helps to maximise boiler use • Connect as ‘open buffer’ • What size?

  18. Finding the answers • Data from commercial nurseries • CO2 demand • 5 minute data • complete cropping season • Scenarios • Low CO2 demand, moderate heat use • High CO2 demand, high heat use

  19. Scenario 1 • 1 Hectare • Energy efficient • Thermal screen etc. • Low CO2 user • Ignoring the need for CO2

  20. No CO2 demand 500kW, 200m3 – 84% biomass Scenario 1

  21. CO2 demand – 423 tonnes/Ha p.a. Nursery 1

  22. CO2 demand satisfied by mains gas 500kW, 200m3 – 42% biomass Scenario 1

  23. Scenario 2 • Higher energy & CO2 user • 697 tonnes CO2 /Ha p.a. • Biomass heat = 31%

  24. Some simple economics • Assumptions • 600kWh/m2/year heat use • ‘Low’ CO2 demand • 42% heat provided by biomass • Comparative fuel costs • Mains gas 2p/kWh (60p/therm) • Wood chip 0.7p/kWh (£25/t) • Fuel cost saving = £32,760/Ha/year.

  25. Simple economics • 3Ha nursery • Total fuel cost saving = £98,280/year. • Cost of 1.5MW boiler & infrastructure • £200k - £300k • 2 - 3 year pay back, ignoring O&M costs • Economies of scale & fuel cost sensitivity are high • Gas price 1.5p/kWh, payback up to 6 yrs • Lower capital cost /MW for bigger boiler

  26. Also consider • Boiler selection • Fuel flexibility • Ease of use • Fuel • Cost now & in the future • Reliability of supply • Ease of storage & handling • Operation & maintenance • Labour • Rules & regulations

  27. Summary - Biomass • Lack of CO2 enrichment is a barrier to uptake • But not a complete ‘lock out’ • The technology is not fit & forget • There are opportunities • Do your homework • The economics are very site specific

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