Philips LED toplighting now installed at ten different sites

In the past few weeks Philips GreenPower LED toplighting has been installed at ten different sites. Before the official launch of LED toplighting, which is planned for early 2014, experience is being gained with this new LED solution at several selected businesses. Philips LED toplighting may be used either instead of traditional high-pressure sodium lamps (HID) or as an energy-efficient addition to them. LED toplighting is also suitable for situations in which conventional lighting is currently not possible due to the greenhouse temperature or the infrastructure. LEDs offer several advantages: they improve crop quality and production and enable lighting to be used on dark days in the spring and summer.

Philips GreenPower LED toplighting was installed at a wide variety of sites this month:

Tomatoes: Wageningen UR (NL), GreenQ Improvement Centre (NL) and Melrow Salads/Flavourfresh (UK)
Chrysanthemums: Beyond chrysant (NL) and Wageningen UR (NL)
Gerberas: Wageningen UR (NL)
Phalaenopsis : Ter Laak Orchids (NL)
Various pot plants: Aarhus University and Copenhagen University (DK)
Strawberries: Hoogstraten Test Centre (B)

Each project has a different objective and is being closely supervised by technical and plant specialists from Philips.

Tomatoes, Wageningen UR, Philips LED GreenPower toplighting in combination with Philips GreenPower LED interlighting

Philips GreenPower LEDs are eminently suitable for situations in which the conditions must be controllable. Several versions with different spectra are available, so the light recipe can be matched perfectly to each particular growing situation. This recipe not only functions as grow light, but also provides control lighting effects. This enables production, plant quality and uniformity to be improved in an efficient manner.

Phalaenopsis, Ter Laak, Philips LED GreenPower toplighting

Work has already been done on recipes for plants such as chrysanthemums and tomatoes in various growing seasons using LED toplighting in greenhouses. The results are promising: strong crops, higher production and reduced energy costs. The high degree of flexibility provided by the new lighting system is found to be a particularly positive aspect: heat and lighting can now be controlled separately so that, say, in spring the lighting can be on for longer. In terms of practicality, too, the design has been highly rated: the module’s smart design makes it easy to install in the greenhouse because it gets built into the existing C-profile, reducing light interception to a minimum. In addition, the modules are air-cooled, eliminating the need for active water cooling. Thanks to their ingenious design, Philips’ systems have an efficiency of 2,3 µmol/J on plantlevel.

Gerberas, Wageningen UR, Philips LED GreenPower toplighting

But Philips is more than just a designer of efficient lighting. Intensive support is provided in various areas. For instance with calculations and light plans by technical specialists, and cultivation advice from in-house plant specialists. This is based on the many years of experience that Philips has built up through close collaboration with universities, research sites and growers. Assistance with financing and subsidy applications is also provided. The services offered by Philips include making precise light measurements following installation.

Philips GreenPower LED toplighting is available at once for customers who wish to start using LED lighting this year. Stocks are limited, though, so growers who wish to use the latest methods to optimize their business are advised to contact Philips Horticulture’s Key Account Managers as soon as possible. They can tell you more about the possibilities and advantages for your particular situation.

For more information:
Philips Horticultural Lighting, the Netherlands
Marjan Welvaarts, Global Marcom Manager Horticulture
Tel.: +31 (0)40 275 64 99
E-mail: marjan.welvaarts@philips.com
www.philips.com/horti