Energy cost reduction by shifting electricity demand in indoor vertical farms with artificial lighting. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Avgoustaki, Dafni Despoina; Xydis, George
• Is Part Of: Biosystems engineering. Volume 211(2021)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 229
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Load shifting -- Vertical farms -- Artificial lighting; Bioengineering -- Periodicals; Agricultural engineering -- Periodicals; Biological systems -- Periodicals; Génie rural -- Périodiques; Systèmes biologiques -- Périodiques; 631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2021.09.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1537-5110

Abstract

Abstract : The article focuses on the energy demand optimisation of indoor vertical farms (IVFs) with artificial lighting using load shifting. The solution in agriculture of IVFs attracts interest; however, operating them without a plan is costly and inefficient. In this research, it was experimentally proven that by electricity load shifting on IVFs, it can result in a 16–26% reduction of artificial lighting costs for all months throughout the year, by simply selecting the times of the day that the required darkness will be provided to the plants (in this experiment, basil). Therefore, one could understand that mass deployment of IVFs within cities could minimise the operational costs, decrease CO2 emissions – since for a large number of leafy products the production will take place in cities - and increase the number of agriculture-based jobs offered in the urban environment. Cash flow analysis of various scenarios revealed that possible investors in indoor vertical farms, in most of the cases, have a full payback period of their investment amount in less than 9 years, while in the majority of the cases the repayment period is as low as 2 years. Highlights: Fluctuating lighting schemes in indoor farms improve plants quantity and quality. The proposed cultivation protocols are based on time-based trading opportunities. The electricity reduction savings were between 16 and 26% (for all months).