Cogeneration can be a very cost-efficient way to heat your greenhouses and supply them with CO2 and electricity at the same time. But if you do not need the latter one in your own greenhouse or if their is no option to connect your CHP to deliver the energy back to the grid, it is a difficult investment. "This was also the case in Mexico in the past ; greenhouse growers do need the heat and CO2, but they can not use the electricity for supplemental lighting because there is enough natural light available", said José Antonio Fernández of Caterpillar Energy Solutions .
Together with greenhouse builder FilClair, Caterpillar organised a seminar or Cogeneration in Mexican greenhouses at the Hoogendoorn Training Centre in Queretaro last month. During this day, the group discussed the possibilities that have been created for CHP's, since the Mexican government changed the legislations.
"It is now possible to sell and deliver locally produced energy from a CHP to the grid", Fernandez said. "This allows industrial sectors to install CHP's, and the greenhouse sector is one of them." Fernandex explained that especially the larger greenhouse growers, for example at the Agropark in Queretaro can benefit from a CHP. "Cogeneration starts to become interesting for greenhouse growers of 10 hectares or larger. The sparkspread in Mexico is attractive to them ; natural gas in Mexico is relatively cheap, and the generated electricity can be sold against good pricing. Next to this, the growers can save money on their CO2 expanses, as they can produce good quality CO2 now as well."
For more information:
Caterpillar Energy Solutions
José Antonio Fernández Muñoz
Electric Power Gas Manager
LATAM Power Systems
Fernandez_Jose-Antonio@cat.com