Climate change is a global phenomenon that has increased the need for sustainable agricultural practices. Using greenhouses to grow vegetables and other crops has been popular for many small and medium-sized producers. However, the dependence on expensive fossil fuels to heat these greenhouses can be a significant problem, especially in Northern countries, where heating expenses represent more than 30% of operational costs.
A new technology known as the climate battery greenhouse system has been developed to address this issue. This system exploits the synergy between greenhouse and geothermal batteries to produce heat without using expensive fossil fuels. The greenhouse effect produces heat from solar radiation, which is stored in the geothermal system. The geothermal system then works as a battery to recharge the underground system with warmth in winter and cold in summer. A climate computer can control this equipment and the geothermal system.
Several successful reference projects have used this technology in the Canadian Maritimes. The Abundant Acres project is one such example, where the climate battery system is used to grow leafy greens during the winter. Maritimes Greenhouses Connection built the geothermal system, and expert grower David Greenberg uses the system without any propane consumption during the winter.
Geothermal greenhouses are also ideal for institutional projects, such as schools and remote communities, to grow fresh food all year round. In addition, this low-tech and affordable technology can produce vegetables for commercial growers and institutional projects. However, it should be noted that the technology is still evolving to optimize battery charge, and an adaptation period is required to measure the maximum potential of the climate battery.
This article is a contribution from Corenthin (Félix) Chassouant, a professional argonomist, author & owner of the horti-generation blog. Read the full version of the article here.
Photo by Nathan Jacobs on Pexels
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