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ECHNOLOGY
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THECOMMERCIALGREENHOUSEGROWER • FEBRUARY 2017
Performance,” he adds.
Priva’s TopCropMonitoring
system, which uses sensors
and computer algorithms to
indicatewhether the crop is
growing optimally, is only a
few steps away from
glasshouses being fully
automated, according toMr
Metcalfe.
RossHibbs, aDirector at
CambridgeHOK says
growers in theUK are keen to
continue toworkwith the very
best available technology
whenever they can. “Diffuse
glass is inmore demand in
theUK to helpproducemore
scattered light inside the
glasshousewhich has had a
really positive effect on
production levels. The case
has beenmade inHolland
and is progressing in theUK
andwe certainly expect it to
be used inmost projects
moving forward,” he tells
The
Commercial Greenhouse
Grower.
The scattered light
produced as a result of the
diffuse glass can penetrate
deeper into the crop canopy.
WageningenURGreenhouse
Horticulture (WUR) inHolland
has carried out a significant
amount of research into the
use of diffuse glass. Its
research shows, after testing,
that there is no shadowon
the crop and the light is
distributedmore evenly
among the plants in a
greenhousewith diffuse glass.
This gives amore even
greenhouse climate and
higher production rate. The
organisation has concluded
that this is true in all crops.
The research also found that
the plant temperature at the
topof the crop in strong
sunlight is lower than under
traditional glass. On average,
it says, fruit was bigger on
salad crops grown under
diffuse glass and the quantity
of harvested fruit increased,
particularly in cucumber.
Overall, diffuse glasswas
found to increase production
by 5% and11%, says the
research.
Mr Hibbs also says that the
company have increased the
number of CHP units it has
installedover the last few
years. “It is not necessarily the
new technology but the price
of gas at themoment
compared to electricwhich
means it is effectively cheaper
toburn gas toproduce
electricity.We have found that
some growers are actively
investing in it and are acting
as an energy centre-with
revenue tobemade from
producing the electricity and
C02 goingback into the
glasshouse for the crops,” he
adds.
“In the next few yearswe
expect to seemore significant
turn-key glasshouse projects
beingbuilt around or next to
‘energy factories’ similar to
themodel adoptedby
CornerwaysNurseries,” says
Mr Hibbs. He says growers
are steadily increasing their
interest in LED’s too. “We are
certainwe have the
technology absolutely nailed
now,” saysMr Hibbs.
“Payback figures are looking a
lot healthier than a few years
ago too,” he adds.
“
LED lighting is becoming
more affordable, soproviding
British consumers continue to
ask for UK grown produce
year round, the growing
season of many cropswill be
extended further. The benefits
of diffuse light will mean that
more glasshouseswill be built
usingdiffuse glass, or by
deploying glass coatings or
screenmaterials toproduce a
diffused light effect.
Producingquality produce
requires easy-to-operate, high
quality, reliable equipment as
well as skilled staff. So there
will be further development of
standard nursery equipment
like crop trolleys tomake
themmore user friendly,
language independent and
with increased service
intervals,” says IanMetcalf.
LED specialists Lemnis
APriva air conditioning system is used tobring in fresh
outside airandheats it if required.
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