TECHNICAL
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OPTIONS Words by Elly Nederhoff : Crophouse Ltd
Decarbonisation is a huge challenge for the greenhouse industry worldwide
Decarbonisation and setbacks in natural gas supply are causing incredibly tough challenges for the greenhouse industry in New Zealand and abroad. Growers are confronted with absurd price hikes, imminent reductions in supply and a steep rise in predicted carbon emission charges. Greenhouse operations in the North Island, including large corporates, are unable to get a reasonable natural gas contract for next winter. There is no time for a gradual energy transition, only for a fast switch. This article outlines some energy solutions currently on offer in the Netherlands, where decarbonisation started several years ago. Finding a fitting solution and implementing it in the New Zealand situation will be difficult.
Decarbonisation The energy transition has its own jargon: decarbonisation, zero-carbon, carbon-neutral, fossil-free, renewable, sustainable. New Zealand aims to considerably reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, including the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Decarbonisation of a sector may lead to zero carbon emissions and being carbon-neutral over time. To this end, the use of fossil fuel must be minimised or ended, so processes become nearly fossil-free. An example is the adoption of electric vehicles powered by green electricity from renewable sources leading to fossil-free transport. Something similar is expected from the greenhouse industry. Note that biomass such as wood waste is not a fossil-fuel, as it was not formed millions of years ago. Thus, the decarbonisation plan allows the use of biofuels because the biological matter would decay quickly and release CO2 anyway.
Energy transition Over the last few decades, many glasshouse operations in the Netherlands installed a gas-fired co-generator and a heat buffer tank. This set-up allows for efficient control of the temperature and humidity (by heating), as well as enabling CO2 enrichment and lighting. Transitioning to another energy arrangement will have a great impact on CO2 enrichment which will not be possible with most new energy solutions. Often, various technologies must be combined to achieve what is needed.
NZGROWER : DECEMBER 2021 51
