Winner Hort Fair press award:

"Next Generation Semi-Closed Greenhouse benchmark for sustainable horticuluture"

The international horticulture-press chose the Next Generation Semi-Closed Greenhouse as the most important innovation on this year’s Horti Fair. The Greenhouse is able to lower energy usage by 30% through the use of heat regulation and mechanical dehumidification. According to insiders the design will be a major contribution to a sustainable horticulture. “The consortium responsible for marketing the Greenhouse is representative for the course taken by the Dutch horticultural community. We think another major step has been taken in the sustainable development in the sector,” the jury stated.

Tomato producer Lans in Rilland is testing the Next Generation Semi-Closed Greenhouse. Researcher Feije de Zwart of Wageningen University oversees the experiment. “A designated department is adapted and equipped with an air conditioning system, allowing the greenhouse to be dehumidified with the windows closed. By closing the greenhouse in the winter, 4 m³ of natural gas is saved and the heat pump – in combination with both a small CHP and a minor aquifer – saves another 6 m³. That is 10 m³ of natural gas per m² per year. In short, the Next Generation Semi-Closed Greenhouse is a sustainable innovation, offering financial and technical advantages."

Participants in the project are P.L.J. Bom (Naaldwijk), Certhon (Poeldijk), Van Dijk Heating (Bunnik), Glascom Tuinbouw (Rijswijk), Technokas (De Lier), VB Group (De Lier) and Zantingh (Rijsenhout). Arend-Sosef (Honselersdijk), Beemster Elektrotechniek (Heerhugowaard), HAWE Systems Europe (Bergschenhoek) and Priva (De Lier) actively supported the program. Financial backers were Rabobank Westland and the ministry of agriculture.

Publication date: Mon 10 Dec 2012