SUSTAINABLE LOW-ENTHALPY AIR CONDITIONING FOR GREENHOUSE

ENEA has developed a sustainable low-enthalpy air conditioning system for greenhouse cooling/heating. Heating occurs through radiant heating tubes which can be coupled to heat pumps.

The system can exploit the near-surface geothermal sources, small-depth and low-temperature (<100°C) ones, available in some geographical areas such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

An alternative supply can be warm wastewater deriving from industrial processes that can be recycled in a circular economy perspective.

Such technology can be transferred and adjusted to meet the needs of developing countries.

Benefits and Advantages:

• Greenhouse production with low environmental impact
• Use of renewable energy sources
• Lower fossil fuel energy consumption and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions
• Continuous crop cycles
• Cost-effectiveness
• Lower thermal pollution from geothermal water and/or warm industrial wastewater

ENEA Service:

• Technology transfer
• Technical support
• Consulting
• Training
• Design

ENEA Activities:

MODEM Project: Closed and controlled greenhouse model for South Sicily.

INNOVA Project: Innovation and valorisation of energy efficiency in Agroindustry.

Keywords: greenhouse system, energy saving, sustainable air conditioning, energy efficiency in agriculture, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, warm wastewater recycling, geothermal source exploitation.

Low temperature geothermally-heated greenhouses.