Comparison of Greenhouse Energy Requirements for Rose Cultivation in Europe and North Africa

Abstract

The ornamental plant production in greenhouses is widespread. A quantitative assessment of greenhouse energy consumption and its variability in space and time is strategic to improve the sustainability of the cultivation. The specific environmental features of the cultivation areas can strongly affect the sustainability of the production. A dynamic simulation model of greenhouse energy balance with an hourly time step was developed and parameterized for a state-of-the-art greenhouse to evaluate the heating requirements for cut-flower roses. This ornamental crop has been used as model species for its high energy requirement for flower production. The energy demand for rose production has been analyzed with an energy balance model with an hourly time step. After a preliminary analysis on the period 1973–2019, the final analysis was carried out on the 30-year period (1990–2019), representative of the current climate. Results show a gradient southwest–northeast of energy needs with relevant effects on economic and environmental sustainability. More specifically, four large sub-areas are identified, namely the central-southern Mediterranean (yearly requirements below 600 MJ m−2 year), the northern Mediterranean, and the area influenced by the mitigating effect of the Atlantic Ocean (600–1200), the central-European area (requirements of 1200–1800), and the Northern European area (above 1800).

Cannabis and the Environment: What Science Tells Us and What We Still Need to Know

“…For cannabis, the annual average electricity intensity has been estimated to range from 78 MJ m –2 (outdoor) to 10152 MJ m –2 (indoor), compared to average annual energy consumption ranges of 600–2827 MJ m –2 for greenhouse vegetable and flower cultivation in Canada, Europe, and North Africa. , Energy consumption in indoor, mixed-light, and outdoor cannabis cultivation systems is driven by a range of processes, including water pumping or fertilizer production. Overall, most energy use from cannabis cultivation is ascribed to lighting, and water and air circulation, in indoor and mixed-light systems.…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Horticulture: Critical Issues and Opportunities Derived from an Unexpected Occurrence

“…A pandemic horticultural production plan should be drawn up by the various nations to ensure the food security of their citizens. The delocalization of production is one strategy that has been used to lower production costs [107], but long-distance logistics becomes vulnerable in the case of a sanitary emergence, as has been experienced in the present pandemic situation.…”

A Cost-Effective Embedded Platform for Greenhouse Environment Control and Remote Monitoring

“…Since the environmental features of the cultivation areas impact the costs associated with heating/cooling, they strongly affect the sustainability of the production [39]. Beside these costs, one should carefully consider the costs of using supplemental lighting in winter.…”

“…Beside these, when one looks at the monthly cost associated with the operation of the greenhouse, the heating/cooling costs and the labor costs seem to be the most important. According to Cola et al [39], in Dutch environmental conditions with advanced and technologically equipped greenhouses, the labor represents almost 50% of production costs, while for the low-technology greenhouses, the labor costs significantly increase; therefore, it is important to reduce other costs such as heating requirements. At the same time, one must observe that the costs associated with lighting are significant, especially in the winter time and in the most northerly areas, and act as a main driver toward adoption of low-power LED luminaries.…”