The project is being constructed on the island that is seen as the 'green lung' of Shanghai. The whole island is a large agricultural park, where only activities connected with agriculture, the horticulture industry or ecological tourism take place.
The NERCPA (National Engineering Research Center of Protected Agriculture) project consists of a two hectare glass greenhouse, equipped to replicate a Dutch greenhouse. It is a national project, which makes it particularly important that the greenhouse should be of superior quality, as the eyes of China will be on this horticultural project. The intention behind NERCPA is to prove that the use of modern, sustainable technologies can increase the production of tomatoes, among other things, while consuming less energy and water.
For this reason, the project makes use of geothermal energy, or ATES: Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage. In this way, less energy will be consumed for cooling and heating the greenhouse. Priva will also use NERCPA as a training centre, where Chinese growers can learn how to achieve energy-efficient cultivation through the optimum use of modern facilities and the latest products and methods.
Dutch consortium
The project is the result of the special relationship between Priva, SAAS (Shanghai Academy for Agricultural Sciences) and Dushi Green. It is being implemented by Priva and its dealers Dushi Green, ArendSosef and Voshol.
The greenhouse was designed by the BOM group, but is being constructed by Dushi Green. Furthermore, everything is being supplied by Dutch partners: Voshol is carrying out the installation, Installect is providing the design for the ATES, ArendSosef is taking care of the irrigation and Codema is responsible for the internal pump circuits. In March of this year, all the partners met in the Netherlands to coordinate the various activities. The project will be launched in April 2013. The kick-off meeting will take place in Shanghai on April 9th, at which, Priva, Voshol, Installect and Dushi Green will also be present. The goal is to be able to deliver an outstanding project by July 2013.
