Climate
Cogeneration plant “powers” tomato greenhouse
In the Netherlands, at a sprawling commercial tomato greenhouse outside of Amsterdam, the world’s first commercial 24-cylinder gas engine is in operation. The Royal Pride Holland project is made possible by two Jenbacher units, which were installed in a pilot project to demonstrate the engine’s commercial viability for the horticultural industry. It highlights the increased emphasis on combined heat and power (CHP) in Europe as the region increases its focus on energy efficiency.
The plant is equipped with GE’s Jenbacher cogeneration-CO2 fertilization process that treats the engines’ CO2-rich exhaust, allowing the gas to be recycled in the greenhouse as a special fertilizer to help boost crop production instead of venting the gas into the atmosphere. In addition to supporting the greenhouse’s operations, surplus electricity from the cogeneration plant is being delivered to the local grid.
The cogeneration plant project allowed Royal Pride Holland to expand the greenhouse to 102 hectares, up from the site’s original 45 hectares of surface area, making it one of the largest facilities in the Netherlands and a major international horticultural production center.
The Netherlands has been at the forefront of Europe’s efforts to encourage industries to expand the use of advanced cogeneration technology to improve local energy efficiency and security, while reducing fossil fuel consumption and overall site emissions.
