Table 2 CEA facility energy expenses as a percentage of total operating costs
From: The emergence of indoor agriculture as a driver of global energy demand
Energy expense ratioa | Description | Country | Facility type |
|---|---|---|---|
77% | Model study for wheat34 | US | Plant factory |
73% | Lettuces, pak choi, basil138 | Germany | Plant factory |
30–60% | Cannabis (2016 conditions)139 | US | Greenhouse and plant factory |
53% | Basil140 | Denmark | Plant factory |
40% | Europe’s largest vertical farm, which found itself at risk of ceasing operations while an ambitious startup folded in the wake of electricity price spikes (variety of crops)141 | Europe | Plant factory |
25% | Survey of large US producers (variety of crops)142 | US | Plant factory |
16% | Cucumber. Electricity prices are 1/10th to 1/20th of that in most industrialized countries50,143 | UAE | Greenhouse |
