Table 3 Uses of controlled environment agriculture energy model studies
From: The emergence of indoor agriculture as a driver of global energy demand
Model study type | Country | Facility type |
|---|---|---|
Quantified trade-offs between yields and energy use as a function of indoor air temperature, light intensity, and photoperiod13 | USA | Plant factory |
Quantified interactions between lighting, heating, and cooling energy needs by hour, month, and location143 | Korea and Indonesia | Plant factory |
Evaluated heating fuel choices, and the effects of heat recovery and cogeneration51 | Italy | Greenhouse |
Quantified energy use of a range of facility types144 | Portugal | Greenhouse; Plant factory |
Isolated effects of geography and artificial light levels on yields145 | UAE, Italy, and Finland | Plant factory |
Performed parametric studies for scaling-up a national estimate of greenhouse heating energy needs98 | Syria | Greenhouse |
Estimated energy savings for a wide range of window, insulation, and wall-to-floor-area ratios, finding less than a 10% savings potential, irrespective of cost96 | UAE, Netherlands, Sweden | Plant factory |
Identified a 33% total energy-saving opportunity, based on a detailed energy audit, most of which involved correcting design and operational deficiencies as distinct from introducing improved equipment44 | USA | Plant factory |
Assessed potential effects of energy efficiency improvements for lighting technology, building insulation levels, exterior albedo, glazing type, environmental control, how energy demand fluctuates by season and geography, and the potential contribution of on-site solar energy systems62,82,96,107,115,146,147 | Multiple countries | Various |
