Keys to encourage long-term investment on fossil-free energy

Added on 28 August 2022

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Keys to encourage long-term investment on fossil-free energy

As countries set targets to achieve climate neutrality, the global horticulture industry is increasingly looking at renewable energy sources to reduce its carbon footprint. However, more incentives are needed to encourage growers to invest in these low-carbon technologies.

This was one of the resounding messages to emerge from 'The future of growing fossil free' - a key discussion that took place at the Vision Theatre at GreenTech Amsterdam on Tuesday, June 14 (2022).

Combined Heat and Power in Pole Position

Panellists Koen Smekens - energy, climate, and air pollution consultant at The Netherlands' independent research organisation TNO, Martin van der Hout - consultant engineer for the International Geothermal Association, and Niki Bennett - innovation, adaptation and plant protection lead for Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG), noted that the current high energy prices are making it notably difficult to move away from the energy-efficient and cost-effective system of combine heat and power (CHP).

Smekens said: "CHP has a triple function for the whole sector and that puts it in a very, very strong position. So, the challenge to become gas free for the sector is quite big."

CHP sees natural gas converted into electricity - the excess of which can be sold to the local electricity grid. It also creates heat, which is used to warm the glasshouse, and carbon dioxide (CO2) - which enriches the crops.

Smekens noted that The Netherlands' subsidy schemes - designed to encourage investment in sustainable energy systems - worked well at a time when the gas prices were quite low but are currently less appealing due to the high costs of investing in sustainable energy systems.

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Courtesy of GreenTech