Greenhouses in Piikkiö embrace energy independence through modern technology

Decades ago, commercial greenhouses relied heavily on fossil fuel oil for heating during colder months, consuming significant amounts. Modern technology now enables these facilities to capture and utilize excess energy, especially during chillier times. However, integrating energy conservation with humidity management, lighting, and plant requirements complicates the equation.

In Piikkiö, Tero Juntti, a local horticulturist, invested in thermal storage tanks, heat transfer systems, and advanced control technology last year. According to Juntti, his greenhouse systems are now well-adjusted and able to manage excessive humidity, which can be detrimental to plant health. “With modern devices, moisture can be efficiently condensed and utilized for watering the plants,” he explains.

During cold nights, warm water is stored in large tanks, heating the greenhouse through heat pumps. Currently, Juntti’s greenhouses can maintain optimal temperatures even when outdoor temperatures drop a few degrees below freezing, with external energy only needed during harsh cold spells. By effectively regulating humidity and temperature throughout the year, these greenhouses can now remain sealed in summer, avoiding the need for open vents, leading to significant savings.

Over the past decade, heat management practices have advanced, and Juntti notes a transformative energy shift within the sector. In summer, the heat collected exceeds internal needs, and it could potentially be sold if there was local demand, such as the presence of a district heating pipeline nearby.

Arttu Lammensalo, a project engineer with Novarbo Oy under the Biolan Group, believes that commercial greenhouses could achieve complete energy independence in the future, with solar energy accumulation possibly exceeding annual greenhouse energy consumption. However, he acknowledges that fully harnessing this energy remains a considerable challenge. “In five years, the world will look very different,” he predicts. According to Finland’s Natural Resources Institute, the country’s greenhouses collectively capture nearly four terawatt-hours of solar energy annually.