In the Netherlands in the last years greenhouses are heated and powered by WKK (warmte kracht koppeling) in English CHP which means Combined Heat and Power also known as co-generation. By installing a CHP system designed to meet the thermal and electrical base loads of a greenhouse, CHP greatly increases the greenhouse operational efficiency and [...]
Read the rest of this entry »ELKAS Electricity Producing Greenhouse
Elkas (the electricity supplying greenhouse) shows how to convert solar energy into electricity. In designing energy generating greenhouses the emphasis still lies in systems that supply low-grade forms of energy (i.e. warmth). The electricity generating greenhouse is aimed at catching the radiation that is not being used for crop growth and converting it in high grade power.
The inteligent solution for this greenhouse is an integrated filter for rejecting near infrared radiation (NIR) and a solar energy delivery system. Cooled greenhouses are an important issue to cope with the combination of high global radiation and high outdoor temperatures. As a first measure, the spectral selective cover material, which prevents the entrance of NIR radiation, is investigated.