THECOMMERCIALGREENHOUSEGROWER
•
JANUARY 2017
16
•
V
ERTICAL FARMING
Sept 5-6
th
2017
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The UK’s Premier show
for Ornamental Horticulture
water-cooled LED fixture
(patent pending) integrated
directly intoNovarbo’s heat
recovery system. Basically,
heat generated by the LEDS
is collected. Transferred to a
heat exchanger, the hot
water pumped through the
heating pipes in themain
greenhouse.
“The brilliance of this
concept lies in full control
and high recovery of heat
energy,” comments Robert.
“In addition tomaximising
the growing surface, I’m also
spending less to heat my
traditional greenhouse.”
While the Finnish grower
reckons to need at least
another sixmonths of tests,
he is already planning the
next stage to seek a partner
and build a similar system
three times the size of the
current pilot project, to be
followed by another similar
structure in the future.
Providing it goes ahead then
this next structurewill not
only be a lot larger than the
current pilot project, but also
fully-automatic and contain at
least six-layers. “This is the
plan,” adds Robert.
It remains to be seenwhat
form or shape the new
structurewill be because the
grower confirms it is not
necessary to have a
greenhousewith the vertical
system. “We could even
locate the structure inside a
totally-enclosed and
darkened building,” he
added. In fact, he reckons
thismay even be better
because thiswill provide him
with away to control all
energy forms both inside and
outside. “Wewant to extract
all the heat generated by the
LEDs and pump the hot
water to themain
greenhouse.”
“We no longer need to grow
our lettuces and herbs in a
greenhouse, which is a
different way of working.”
u
Robert Jordas ofRobbe’sLittleGardennurserywithNetledmanagingdirectorNikoKivioja.
Netled first startedworkingwithLEDs in 2006. This is the company’smost advanced
multilayer lighting system so far.
As this issuewas going topresswe receiveddetails
that Robbe’s LittleGarden has established a joint
venture vertical farmingproject with Fujitsu. Called
FujitsuGreenhouse Technology Finland, and located at
Lindkoski, the ‘plant factory’ provides around 3,400m²
of cultivation spacewith six growing layers. The fully-
automated systemwill useNetled-developed LEDs, and
Novarbowill take care of heat energymanagement. The
aim is to grow anddeliver a steady, year-round supply
of vegetables, such as baby greens and leaf lettuce.
Full-scale production is planned for the first half of 2017,
reaching the Finnishmarket through the sales network
of Robbe’s LittleGarden.
