Biomass powered greenhouses for organic tomatoes
Quicknote bioenergy economics
In Europe and Canada, many vegetables and fruits are grown in greenhouses during the winter. Besides labor, energy is the biggest operational cost of running such a horticultural business. It does not come as a surprise then that, given record low temperatures and record high fuel prices, this industry is looking into alternative energy systems to heat its hot houses. This is a concrete example of how bioenergy can be both eco-friendly and economic.
In Québec, the Serres Jardins-Nature de Bonaventure, which produce 300 tons of organic tomatoes, have opted for biomass for several basic reasons. First of all the wood chips that are burned are eco-friendly and locally and abundantly available; secondly, prices are projected to remain very stable making heating costs lower overall than working either with natural gas, diesel or grid-electricity; thirdly, and most importantly, the mineral-rich ash that remains after the combustion of the woody biomass makes for an excellent organic fertilizer that will be used on the certified tomatoes.
Moreover, it can be argued that so-called 'organically grown' tomatoes are really not that environmentally friendly when they are cultivated in glass houses that utilize vast amounts of fossil fuel. After all, glass house horticulture is one of the most energy intensive agricultural sectors, emitting thousands of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. A biomass heating system on the contrary is climate friendly. So in a sense, only vegetables that are grown in such a system deserve the 'eco' or 'bio' label. Organically grown, and not dependent on fossil fuels.
Contrary to its competitors, the greenhouse complex of Jardins-Nature de Bonaventure will be expanded from 8000 to 12000 square metres because it already foresees a competitive advantage over those who still heat with fossil fuels, but also because the project receives a small grant by the Québec government, which has launched a program to introduce renewable energy systems in the glass house horticultural industry. The Bonaventure tomatoes -- heated and fertilized by biomass -- will be sold in Québec, Ontario, and in the U.S.
[Entry ends here].
biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: horticulture :: greenhouse :: heating ::
In Europe and Canada, many vegetables and fruits are grown in greenhouses during the winter. Besides labor, energy is the biggest operational cost of running such a horticultural business. It does not come as a surprise then that, given record low temperatures and record high fuel prices, this industry is looking into alternative energy systems to heat its hot houses. This is a concrete example of how bioenergy can be both eco-friendly and economic.
In Québec, the Serres Jardins-Nature de Bonaventure, which produce 300 tons of organic tomatoes, have opted for biomass for several basic reasons. First of all the wood chips that are burned are eco-friendly and locally and abundantly available; secondly, prices are projected to remain very stable making heating costs lower overall than working either with natural gas, diesel or grid-electricity; thirdly, and most importantly, the mineral-rich ash that remains after the combustion of the woody biomass makes for an excellent organic fertilizer that will be used on the certified tomatoes.
Moreover, it can be argued that so-called 'organically grown' tomatoes are really not that environmentally friendly when they are cultivated in glass houses that utilize vast amounts of fossil fuel. After all, glass house horticulture is one of the most energy intensive agricultural sectors, emitting thousands of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. A biomass heating system on the contrary is climate friendly. So in a sense, only vegetables that are grown in such a system deserve the 'eco' or 'bio' label. Organically grown, and not dependent on fossil fuels.
Contrary to its competitors, the greenhouse complex of Jardins-Nature de Bonaventure will be expanded from 8000 to 12000 square metres because it already foresees a competitive advantage over those who still heat with fossil fuels, but also because the project receives a small grant by the Québec government, which has launched a program to introduce renewable energy systems in the glass house horticultural industry. The Bonaventure tomatoes -- heated and fertilized by biomass -- will be sold in Québec, Ontario, and in the U.S.
[Entry ends here].
biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: horticulture :: greenhouse :: heating ::
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home