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The energy producing greenhouse. In the Netherlands agriculture and especially the horticultural business is an important and innovative sector. Energy costs are one of the major challenges for this sector. Saving energy has been an important goal for growers in the Netherlands for many years. Growers have responded by introducing new productions techniques and technologies in their facilities. Reducing the fossil energy consumption is also important for the nursery’s because of there dependency on international suppliers, the availability in the long run and last but not least the environment aspects.At hydro culture nursery Stef Huisman BV in Bemmel the project ‘The EnergyProducing Greenhouse’ was realised to develop a system that produces more energy than it consumes. This is done by ‘harvesting’ free sun energy during the summer. This energy is stored in a long term energy storage in the ground. During the winter the energy is retrieved from the storage and used to heat the greenhouse. The surplus can be used to heat other greenhouses or elsewhere.To do so new technologies have been developed and tested which are highly efficient. How to use the system is also subject of research by Wageningen university and research.After working with the system for two years evaluation results are very positive. The energy system produces very good growing conditions for the plants.A lot of people have visited the project and spin off is not only in the greenhouse business. Also building environment started to work with the principles and techniques inspired on the ‘energy producing greenhouse’.
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