Neiker-Tecnalia (Basque Institute of Agricultural Research and Development) has developed a heated greenhouse with alternative energy sources that reduce energy costs, improve efficiency and increase crop yields. The new system has a biomass boiler and solar thermodynamic panels, which achieve the optimum temperature for growing crops without using fuels derived from oil or gas.
Neiker-Tecnalia has installed a biomass boiler (using wood and other organic waste as fuel) and thermodynamic plates, with the aim of air conditioned greenhouses dedicated to intensive cultivation. This method is able to reduce costs and improve crop yields, so can be picked seasonal produce throughout the year. This project seeks an alternative to regular oil boilers, which emit large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere and are very costly to the farmer, because of the high price of petroleum fuels.
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