Being such a highly valuable crop, there's little to no room for mistakes in large-scale cannabis cultivation. When the industry rose from illegality, growers found themselves in a whole new game where they had to take care of hundreds of thousands of plants. That also posed the challenge of finding the right equipment to handle CEA operations of that scale. Cannabis grows very much differ in sizes, and the bigger they got, the harder was to manage and to find the right procedures and solutions to run everything smoothly. Nailing down all the different variables in large cannabis greenhouses like those in North America is not an easy feat.
Founded 52 years ago, Schep Verwarming took a significant turn in 2008 when Arjan Haasdijk and his business partner acquired it. The company's expertise in greenhouse heating and cooling took a decisive step forward in 2014 with a greenhouse project in France, executed in collaboration with Prins Holland. "The project, though modest in scale, demonstrated our ability to simulate summer and winter conditions within a greenhouse," he says. "That was a fundamental advancement that would later shape our work in cannabis cultivation."
Their involvement in cannabis greenhouse projects indeed began in 2016, working with a client in the United States - where they operated under the name of SV Climate - alongside Prins. This marked the launch of the SunMed project.
Expanding cannabis cultivation in phases
The SunMed project was executed in multiple phases. Phase 1 began in 2016, setting the foundation for a controlled heating and cooling system tailored to the precise needs of cannabis plants. By 2019, the greenhouse footprint doubled, incorporating refinements based on initial observations and challenges.
This year, Schep Verwarming has completed the heating system for Phase 3, again doubling the cultivated area to a total of three hectares. The expansion has included advanced cooling, heating, and dehumidification systems. "The client has very precise humidity targets, and the project involves a complex setup of cooling towers and chillers," Arjan explains. "It's an impressive undertaking, balancing temperature and moisture levels to optimize plant growth."
The knowledge acquired during the initial phases was crucial for refining their approach. Understanding plant transpiration rates and overall environmental needs posed significant challenges, but through iterative adjustments, the company successfully fine-tuned its climate control systems.
Enhancements and future potential
Each phase of the project brought new innovations. Phase 1 featured a simple boiler and chiller system within the greenhouse. By Phase 2, a dedicated technical room was introduced, housing thermal storage tanks for heating and cooling water, along with larger chillers and cooling towers. This phase also tackled the challenge of external contaminants, particularly pollen coming from nearby hemp cultivations, which could compromise cannabis crops. An advanced air filtration and pressurization system was installed to prevent pollen intrusion while maintaining optimal air circulation.
With Phase 3 now operational and an additional cold storage tank, chillers, and boilers in place, the groundwork has been laid for a potential Phase 4 expansion. While this next phase would not double the existing area, provisions for its integration have already been designed.
The American market and beyond
Arjan notes the differences in approach between greenhouse projects in the Netherlands and the United States. "In the Netherlands, cost efficiency is prioritized, but in America, growers are more willing to invest in minimizing risks and optimizing conditions."
Aside from cannabis, Schep Verwarming remains committed to serving a diverse range of agricultural needs. "In the U.S., we support greenhouse operations for orchids and lettuce, among other crops. Our flexibility in addressing various horticultural demands ensures that their expertise is widely applicable."
Cannabis wasn't the company's focus initially, but the market guided them there. "We take pride in our ability to adapt and deliver high-quality climate solutions," Arjan reflects. "Whether it's cannabis, vegetables, or ornamental plants, we aim to provide the best possible growing conditions. With our demonstrated success in large-scale cannabis cultivation, we continue to solidify our reputation in greenhouse climate control, ready to tackle new challenges regardless of the crop."
For more information:
Schep Verwarming
[email protected]
schepverwarming.nl/en/
SunMed Growers
127 Worsell Manor Rd,Warwick, MD 21912
(410) 275-4465
sunmedgrowers.com