GrowSave - Horticulture

GrowSave: a knowledge exchange programme set up to help growers save energy and reduce costs.

AHDB Horticulture have provided funding for this project until September 2024.

This page is now a static archive of GrowSave information and resources. For up-to-date information from GrowSave, including energy market updates, technical articles and access to training course please visit the active GrowSave website:

GrowSave.co.uk

The GrowSave project has been helping horticultural growers save energy for over 10 years by facilitating access to the latest technical information on energy saving techniques and technologies to cut use and cost. As a proportion of business variable costs, energy costs can be considerable, particularly in protected cropping which is where the focus of this project , providing information on the proper use of screens in your glasshouse all the way through the best available options for energy production. However, this information can be applied across the horticultural sectors and beyond.

Growing soft fruit under glass can extend your growing season while making climate control and the use of biological pest control easier. Whether converting an existing glasshouse or building a new structure, read on to consider which glasshouse features are required for soft fruit growing and the typical costs to expect.

Good air movement in a protected growing environment is an important part of creating an even climate and can help improve crop quality and uniformity.  

It is important to consider the best way of moving air around your greenhouse or polytunnel based on your crop type and the production system you use, to find the right solution.  

Cost and energy use should also be considered. While installing fans may be an expensive upfront cost, pipe heating will have higher energy costs and boilers may need servicing and maintenance. A well-designed fan arrangement will achieve better air movement and a more even climate than pipe heating, and should be less expensive in the long-term. 

Protected horticulture production often requires a large heating capability, which usually makes up most of a businesses’ energy needs. In this section you can find out more about different options for alternative energy production to meet this requirement, including biomass combined heat and power (CHP), key factors to consider when installing boiler systems, including the size of the boiler and types of fuel, and the pros and cons of the different systems available. You can also learn about heat pumps; how they work and key factors for installation and heat storage.

Glasshouse humidity management

This series of webpages provides information to help you effectively manage the humidity in your glasshouse and achieve good control. The information includes examples of good humidity control and the costs involved, alongside the management of venting and avoiding condensation in the glasshouse. 

Energy costs in the protected cropping sectors, as a proportion of business variable costs, can be considerable. They are dependent on the fuels used, technology, effective monitoring and benchmarking, the impact of incentives and much more. Although it is important to consider the larger, impactful changes you can make, such as considering alternative energy production, you should also think about the more basic energy management tweaks, which can help improve efficiencies and keep costs low.

It is vital to know what you are paying for when it comes to energy, including electricity, bulk fuels, heat and gas. Read on for advice on accurately measuring energy, understanding your electricity bill and considerations for your combined heat and power system.

There are many sophisticated methods available for saving energy and improving efficiencies. However, a key, cost-effective and relatively simple step towards this goal is to measure and record your energy use. This can then be used to benchmark and make rational decisions when making changes to how you manage your glasshouse.

Read on to consider which sensors suit your site and needs, and how you can compare the data produced over time, and alongside energy data to not only help you optimise your glasshouse climate for your crop, but also save energy and costs.

Over recent months the spotlight has been on the Net Zero agenda. This has made commercial horticultural businesses increasingly focus on their own carbon footprint and how the industry can meet the UK government target of achieving a net zero economy by 2050; and the NFU target of 2040.

Proper assessment of carbon footprint is a key consideration in this journey, however, it is very involved and will not, on its own, provide recommendations for reduction of emissions to help reach the Net Zero goal. Carbon capture, renewable energy production, and improvements to productivity and land management will all help the farming sector reduce carbon emissions.

Next Generation Growing (NGG) is about giving the crop exactly what it needs, when it needs it. The techniques create an environment in which the plant thrives, so photosynthesis is maximised in the given light levels.   

Pioneered by Dutch growers, Next Generation Growing is a set of techniques that increases the efficiency of glasshouse production. If implemented well, it can also lead to a 20% reduction in heat use. 

Carbon dioxide dosing has become an integral part of greenhouse horticulture and is vital to the cost-effective production of many glasshouse crops. However, it can have high energy costs, which has to be kept in check. It is now common practice to raise the glasshouse daytime CO2 concentration for many protected edible crops and some ornamental crops to help optimise photosynthetic rate. Find out more about conventional and alternative sources of CO2 for your glasshouse, and CO2 dosing.

Lighting is a vital consideration in the management of your glasshouse environment. There have been significant improvements in horticultural lighting technology in recent years, but there are also things you can do to enhance the natural light in your glasshouse to benefit the crop. Read more in our technical updates below.

It is well know that the effective use of screen in greenhouses can help you save energy, control humidity and achieve a uniform growing environment. This is key to maintaining a healthy, productive crop. Here, you can find out more about how to overcome humidity and temperature variations, and also how to optimise screen and vent control alongside your lighting operations.

GrowSave Blog

Keep up to date on the latest energy news and development in horticulture with our GrowSave blog.

GrowSave News

Our newsletter is published three times a year.  Catch up with past issues and other highlights below.

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