Swedish university develops automatated growroom
Forest is gaining increasing importance for the simple fact that it is a renewable resource that can be used to replace oil-based products. An increase in forest growth will result in a larger intake of carbon dioxide, which in turn will combat global warming. Project Zephyr, which concluded in October 2015, has already received a great deal of interest worldwide.
The project took three years to complete and was collaborative between 14 institutes in 10 countries. It resulted in a transportable, energy-efficient and completely automised grow environment for the growing of trees. Involved throughout the project were Marco Hernandez Velasco, Doctoral Student in Energy and Environmental Engineering, and Anders Mattsson, Senior Lecturer.
Old, traditional greenhouses require a good deal of energy and large spaces: in Sweden, for example, cultivation of plants begins in March when it is still cold and dark. Project Zephyr has helped develop a means of cultivating trees and other seedlings in an efficient way that will have great significance for future generations.
Using solar panels on the roof and led lights, Zephyr is both energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Used correctly, it also results in minimal heat waste. A prototype was recently put on display at the World Expo in Milano, and the interest it drew was clear. With its solar panels, the room is self-sufficient when it comes to electricity, and this alone opens up opportunities for cultivation in areas that might otherwise be seen as incompatible for such purposes.
The next step for Marco Hernandez Velasco and Anders Mattsson is to apply for project funding so that they can pursue their work in this area.
"We want to grow plants of high quality, keeping in mind what they will be used for," explains Marco. "A different level of quality is required depending on whether the wood will be used in construction or in the paper industry. We aim to research during the cultivation process whether we can give the plant the right growing conditions so that the best wood type is the end result. To do this, we require a broad knowledge base within the field of Energy, Forest and Construction Engineering, which is exactly what we have at Dalarna University. "
Source: Dalarna University