The consumptionof gas in a greenhouse is determined by the isolation degree of thegreenhouse, evaporation and moisture control and CO2 dosage from flue gases.The consumption of gas at the Venlow Energy greenhouse, the Netherlands, is low.This greenhouse is well isolated and no gas need to be burned to dose the CO2level. Even though the low gas consumption of the Venlow Energy greenhouse, itis not energy neutral. This is the purpose of the research program of Kas AlsEnergiebron, the Netherlands.
Awell isolated greenhouse will reduce the energy demand for heat. However, inthese well isolated greenhouses, evaporation causes the remaining demand forheat. The less the plant evaporates, the less demand for heat. So, reductionof the evaporation of the plants has two advantages. Firstly, it lowers thedemand for heating. Secondly, it reduces the energy demand for the dehumidification.However, this is only an issue at night. By day, evaporation will be driven bythe sun, which does not cost any energy.
Lastyear, the Kas Als Energiebron succeed to lower the nightly evaporation in theVenlow Energy greenhouse. By increasing the humidity at night, it was possibleto reduce the evaporation. The crop still grows as good as in previous years.
Thisresearch is realized due to the contribution of the Ministry of EconomicAffairs and the program Kas als Energiebron.
Source: Energiek2020