To achieve climate-neutral greenhouse production by 2040, growers are increasingly turning to closed greenhouse systems that are designed to minimize heat loss during the winter months. One major opportunity for additional energy savings lies in removing excess humidity from the greenhouse air, the moisture released by crops through transpiration—and recovering the heat contained in that moisture.
With the help of modern dehumidification systems, growers can take a significant step toward fossil-free cultivation, according to the final report "Energy-Efficient Dehumidification Techniques" (link in Dutch) by Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Researcher Feije de Zwart from WUR shared an update on this topic through the Kas als Energiebron (Greenhouse as Energy Source) program.
By using internal dehumidification, growers can keep their greenhouses more tightly closed in winter, reducing heat loss. At the same time, the latent heat from the excess moisture in the air can be captured and reused for heating, provided a heat pump is used, the researchers note.
The study tested two different heat pump-based dehumidification systems. Both showed significant gas savings, but only one system, the version that can store recovered heat either temporarily or seasonally, offers real potential for fully fossil-free greenhouse production.
Source: Greenhouse as an Energy Source