Maintaining a suitable temperature in the greenhouse in the cold season requires the assistance of the heating system, and renewable energy is advocated to replace traditional energy for greenhouse heating.
What is a solar greenhouse?
Unlike a traditional building, solar greenhouses consist primarily of the transparent envelope, and the effect of the direct and diffuse component of solar radiation affects the internal well-being of plants.
Do solar greenhouses perform well under different climate scenarios?
Solar greenhouses are currently the most energy-intensive agricultural sector. In literature, there is no worldwide mapping of solar greenhouse performance under different climate scenarios. This study analyzes the performance of a Venlo solar greenhouse for 48 localities around the world.
Solar greenhouses are mainly made of a transparent envelope and the effect of the direct and diffuse component of solar radiation impacts the internal plant well-being. This study aims to identify the best solution of a transparent envelope on locations with different latitudes and evenly distributed around the globe.
By utilizing free solar energy, these systems can dramatically lower electricity bills, particularly in regions with high electricity costs and ample sunlight. While the initial investment is higher, solar-powered AC systems can pay for themselves over time through energy savings and potential tax incentives or rebates.
Are solar greenhouses a viable alternative to horticultural production?
Solar greenhouses currently constitute the most energy-intensive branch of agriculture; the energy inputs (fuels and electricity) to meet the heat needs of greenhouses have a major impact on the cost and environmental sustainability of horticultural and floricultural production.
How can we predict micro-climate trends in solar greenhouses?
Several mathematical models have been fully implemented to predict micro-climate trends within solar greenhouses, using greenhouse components and external climate conditions as inputs. Early approaches to study greenhouse micro-climate are based on real testing and data analysis (Li et al., 2017).