Rimaco Greens Inc., a Canadian AgTech innovator, has developed a 100% sealed, pressurized greenhouse system. "Our vision is to give growers a solution that not only maximizes crop yield and quality but also dramatically cuts energy use and environmental impact," said Angela Solano, CEO and Co-Founder of Rimaco Greens Inc., adding that, being the first of its kind, this patent-pending solution maintains a completely isolated growing environment using minimal energy for lighting, temperature, and humidity control. "We believe this is the future of Controlled Environment Agriculture, and we're ready to prove it." The company's Energy Innovation Center, located in Alberta, Canada, houses the pilot facility — now in the final stages of completion — which will serve as the world's first pressurized greenhouse demonstration site.
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Rimaco Greens, founded in Alberta, has been working on the system for over seven years of self-funded research. Angela explains that the realized system creates ideal growing conditions year-round, entirely independent of outdoor weather. At the heart of this innovation is Rimaco Greens' highly energy-efficient heating and cooling system.
The facility is designed to maintain a closed production environment with no outside air exchanges, using a hydrologic climate control system that integrates three closed loops for water, air, and condensate management. A video of the greenhouse currently being built shows the system's climate control components installed along the north wall and beneath the grow beds, leaving the main production area open for crop rows. "An air shower controls entry into the clean growing zone. Humidity management takes place within a thermal battery heat exchanger containing 65,000 gallons of water. During cooling, warm humid air passes over cold surfaces in the exchanger, transferring heat to the water and producing condensate. The cooled, dehumidified air is then distributed along the south wall."
Thermal energy stored in the water mass is circulated through finned-tube heat exchangers. Horizontal fans move greenhouse air across these tubes, where cold water flow removes heat. The temperature drop causes additional condensate to form on the tubes, which is collected and directed by gravity to a condensate tent. Both condensate sources are treated and returned to the evaporative cooling process, closing the water loop.
Angela explains that the system is intended to maintain stable climate conditions year-round without reliance on mechanical ventilation. "We are managing air temperature, humidity, and water recovery entirely within a closed environment. The pressurization prevents any unfiltered outside air from entering, which supports consistent production parameters," Angela said.
"We've applied advanced energy optimization techniques from the oil industry to farming," explained Ricardo Solano, CTO and Co-Founder of Rimaco Greens Inc. "Our system doesn't use traditional air conditioning or air exchanges. Instead, it controls temperature and humidity using thermal energy storage at scale with tightly integrated flows of air and water."
"While the well-known benefits of growing food in a fully isolated environment have fueled interest in urban agriculture, high capital costs and unsustainable energy use have remained major barriers to making it a truly accessible, sustainable solution," Ricardo said, adding that this technology represents a turning point for Controlled Environment Agriculture, giving growers a competitive edge, particularly in regions with challenging climates, and enabling the production of clean, affordable food without environmental cost.
Rimaco Greens has been recognized by SVG Ventures | THRIVE, the leading global AgriFood innovation platform based in Silicon Valley, for its potential in the agrifood industry. The company has also secured a competitive innovation grant from the Government of Canada's Innovation Asset Collective (IAC) program. The next step for the company is to bring the pilot into full-scale food production, generating certified operational and economic performance data. Rimaco Greens is currently seeking a strategic grower-investor to join in scaling this technology.
For more information:
Angela Solano
CEO & Co-Founder
Rimaco Greens
Calgary AB, Canada
403-700-3540
[email protected]
www.rimacogreens.com
