‍Can renewable energy be used in vertical farming?

The agricultural industry is one of the largest consumers of natural resources, contributing significantly to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Vertical farming has emerged as part of the solution to these challenges and as well as helping to reduce the impact on our environment, can pair perfectly with renewable energy sources.

In this blog, we explore the potential of renewable energy sources to power vertical farming systems such as our own, as well as the concept of co-location (where a vertical farm is located nearby and powered by a renewable energy source)..

What is a vertical farm?

Vertical farming is the practice of growing food in vertically stacked layers. It takes other indoor growth techniques, such as hydroponics, to produce the perfect plant. At IGS, we use Total Controlled Environment Agriculture (TCEA) to completely control the growing environment and humidity, temperature, fertigation, and lighting, amongst other factors.

It allows growers to increase yield, maximise resource efficiency, and grow crops year-round, regardless of external weather conditions. Due to the rising impact of climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, vertical farming is now a key tool worldwide in allowing growers to produce crops throughout the year.

‍

Why is vertical farming critical for a more sustainable future?

Vertical farming has many key benefits, including the ability to partner with clean energy sources, reduce food miles, and significantly reduce land usage. Traditional agriculture practices require a significant amount of land to grow crops, but arable land is becoming scarce as populations continue to grow. By growing vertically, vertical farms can produce the same amount of food as an open-field farm, using only a fraction of the land. For example, a 9-m IGS Growth Tower, has a 41m2 footprint and a maximum growing area of 37 m2.

Agriculture and resource usage

The agricultural industry is also one of the largest consumers of freshwater globally, accounting 70% of its overall usage. Vertical farms can recycle the water used for irrigation, reusing any excess so no drop is wasted. This can massively reduce water waste and increase water-use efficiency. An IGS farm, for example, uses roughly 98% less water than open field growing.

Compared to smart greenhouses our Growth Towers use around 73% less water per kg of lettuce. IGS’ fully automated water and nutrient dosing system is integrated, meaning that the only water leaving the facility is in the crops themselves. We also use a Cloud-based Growth Tower Management System (GTMS), allowing growers to control all of this remotely and minimise labour requirements.

Minimising the environmental footprint of food production

Vertical farms can also produce crops year-round, regardless of external weather conditions. This can help to reduce the carbon footprint associated with importing food from other regions, helping to improve food security.

Traditional agriculture also relies heavily on pesticides and herbicides to protect crops from pests and diseases. Vertical farms, however, create a controlled environment that removes the need for these chemicals, leading to fewer pollutants in the environment.

Using smart technology in farming

At IGS, we have developed a blend of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to smartly control light and minimise energy consumption. The system provides multi-modal control of lighting including spectrum, delivering the light plants need to grow with optimised efficacy, helping vertical farmers to achieve maximum yield with efficient use of energy. Our patented technology features zero flicker lighting, further improving growing conditions for an indoor environment.

IGS’s supplementary lighting system can work alongside our broader vertical farming technology platform to an indoor farm with scale, efficiency and reliability (we’ve previously written about how the right lighting can optimise different aspects of a plant’s growth). There are many other possibilities to use renewable energy sources to further improve energy usage efficiencies, and our patented technology can help to easily integrate these.

Can you run vertical farms on renewable energy?

Yes. There are several ways to integrate renewable energy sources into your vertical farming system. For example, a solar power system can be installed on the site of a vertical farm to generate electricity. This electricity can power the lighting and other required equipment, such as pumps and fans. In addition, solar thermal systems can be used to provide hot water for cleaning and other purposes.

Wind power can also be used to generate electricity for the farm, using small wind turbines nearby to generate electricity. However, wind power is less consistent than solar power, so it may need to be supplemented with other energy sources.

In addition to solar and wind power, other renewable energy sources such as biogas, geothermal, and hydroelectric power have the potential power a vertical farm. However, the feasibility of these sources may depend on the location and availability of these alternative energy sources.

Running your vertical farm on renewable electricity means you can, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, it ensures a consistent energy supply - this is essential for the year-round operation of a vertical farm. It also helps ensure reliable production cycles, maximum productivity, and enhanced resource utilisation.

Our tech solutions use roughly a third of the electricity required compared to other vertical farms. This makes IGS Growth Towers a highly competitive option, allowing growers to direct budget to other areas of the business.

Benefit of co-locating a vertical farm with a renewable energy source

Co-locating a vertical farm with a renewable energy supply has many benefits for both the vertical farmer and the energy producer.

This enables the energy producer to direct-wire (private-wire) their energy into a project receiving a greater and fairer price per kWh than selling energy to the grid. It also allows the energy producer to enter a stable, long-term contract, removing risks associated with market volatility. For the grower, this gives them access to a long-term, stable energy price.  

Integrating the circular economy can also make a great business case, using food-waste to power a vertical farm. In short, integrating a renewable source beside your vertical farming project can create a win-win outcome for both the vertical farm operator and energy producer.

IGS vertical farming technology

IGS combines crop science and engineering expertise to develop an indoor vertical farming system. This provides business advantages while addressing pressing global issues such as food security and sustainability.

We take Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) further with Total Controlled Environment Agriculture. TCEA allows predictable crop growth in any suitable location, giving complete control over all aspects of the growing environment. This allows growers to replicate the perfect summer’s day, 365 days a year, resulting in consistent, high-quality crops. Our technology is also modular and flexible, allowing it to be easily integrated into a business without interrupting existing output, and scaled easily when the business demands.

Our approach uses TCEA to mimic a crop’s ideal growing conditions, alongside a Cloud-based control software, automation, and machine learning, as well as multispectral LED lighting and patented three-phase power. It uses no harmful chemicals, creating a growing environment that precisely and reliably provides high yields for a wide range of crops.

Growth Towers can produce a variety of crops, including everything from leafy greens such as basil, to starter plants such as lettuce plugs and tomatoes, and even pharmaceuticals. They can also work as part of a hybrid approach with traditional farming methods, allowing growers to complement open-field and greenhouse growing , with vertical farming technology.

Looking to the future

Using renewable energy sources to power a vertical farm is a promising solution for sustainable agriculture. By reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and decreasing the carbon footprint, renewable energy can help to create a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future for agriculture.

Want to understand how an IGS Growth Tower can work for your business? Watch our webinar, "Running a vertical farm during an energy crisis", or get in touch today.

‍