In recent years, the economics of cultivating greenhouse-grown vegetables such as tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumbers have been less favourable in Spain and the Netherlands. Combined heat and power (CHP) generation is a good way of earning extra income and/or reducing energy costs.
Dutch greenhouse growers are increasingly making use of combined heat and power generation (CHP), according to LEI researcher Nico van der Velden. CHP produces electricity and heat at the same time. Greenhouse growers can sell the electricity generated and heat their greenhouses cheaply.
Little heating is used in Spanish greenhouses. According to Van der Velden, Spanish greenhouse growers would like to introduce heating within their businesses in order to improve the quality of the horticultural products. However, the benefits often don’t balance out the costs. Moreover, he doesn't expect any large-scale investments in the short term due to the poor economic situation in Spain.
In early October, Van der Velden gave a presentation entitled ‘Energy consumption and CHP in Dutch horticulture’ during ‘Netherlands Day’ in the Spanish city of Almería. The presentation covered the role of CHP in greenhouse horticulture with regard to energy-efficiency, CO2 emissions, the proportion of sustainable energy, and the transition paths of the Greenhouse as an Energy Source programme (only in Dutch).
The Netherlands Day is an annual event that brings together Dutch and Spanish people with a connection with greenhouse horticulture in Almería. This year, the theme of the event is the sustainable use of energy in horticulture. The organiser of the Netherlands Day is the Agriculture department of the Dutch Embassy in Madrid.
More information:
Report 2008-019 Energy application. Combined heat and power in Dutch horticulture (Summary)