One percent more light is one percent more production - it's a popular statement in horticulture. However, the sun has more value than that, that’s what they think at Arcon-Sunmark. At the HortiContact, they explained how solar thermal energy can be appealing to greenhouse horticulture. "Certainly thanks to the relatively low temperatures that are used in the greenhouses, solar thermal is interesting. And finally the sun rises for free."
Arcon Sunmark at the HortiContact 2020
Optimization
The horticultural sector is ultimately about optimizing costs, and energy is a major contributor to production costs. Moreover, the horticulture sector wants and needs to become more sustainable. At Arcon-Sunmark, they therefore see opportunities for further use of the sun. The company supplies solar collectors and large, complete, turnkey solar thermal systems, which can also be used effectively in greenhouse horticulture.
"By using solar thermal energy as a heat source in combination with the excellent subsidy scheme that is currently available, the Dutch horticultural sector is able to produce heat with solar collectors at very low costs," says Peter Eijbergen from Arcon Sunmark. "Moreover, these costs are no longer subject to inflation. The investment is made only once, which means that the costs in € per MWh are fixed for the lifetime of the project (> 25 years)." Their oldest project has even been in operation for 32 years.
In Denmark, for example, Arcon Sunmark has realized the Ostervang Varpelev project. With a surface area of more than 14,000 m2, more than 1,100 collectors convert solar energy into heat. With this, they generate around 7,000 MWh of energy annually.
Inflation-free heating
In addition to the advantage of heating that is not subject to inflation - as is the case with natural gas - sustainability, Peter says, plays an important role. "The heat is generated without emissions, eliminating a future CO2 tax on it and no noise and odor is produced during the heat production. Solar thermal energy is therefore the most efficient source available. In short, the perfect match for the horticultural sector to make sustainability more visible."
For more information:
Arcon Sunmark GmbH
Clermont Ferrand Allee 26e
93049 Regensburg
Germany
Email: pei@arcon-sunmark.com
Mobile: +31 (0)6 27 03 88 40
Office: +49 (0)941 7805 9064
Web: www.arcon-sunmark.com