Advanced Modeling Framework for the Simulation of Greenhouse Climate and the Integration of Sustainable Energy Solutions

This research underscores the compelling necessity for sustainable practices within the greenhouse horticulture sector, propelled by the sector's inherent energy intensity in countries such as the Netherlands.
Within the European context, marked by ambitious energy transition goals, the imperative to shift from conventional energy sources to low-carbon alternatives is pronounced. Greenhouses, historically reliant on gas-fired units, emerge as promising candidates for the integration of renewable energy sources. Successful implementations of geothermal projects, biofuel, and residual heat recovery applications exemplify the sector's potential. Concurrently, of equal significance is the investigation into energy efficiency measures aimed to decarbonize existing gas-fired systems, which continue to dominate the energy supply in greenhouses.

To assess the viability of these measures, the necessity for a simulation tool becomes evident. However, the effective execution of these studies faces hinderances due to the absence of suitable tools in the market. Even in instances where individuals are willing to invest in access to one of the few existing proprietary tools, such tools lack the modularity required for the integration of greenhouses with alternative HVAC, generation or storage systems. This dissertation is devoted to the development of a versatile modeling framework valid for different greenhouse climates and designs. The proposed framework stands as a pioneering contribution, furnishing a user-friendly, open-source platform for simulating and optimizing greenhouse climate, crop yield, and intricate energy flows between the greenhouse and its generation and storage units. Its parametric and object-oriented approach provides unmatched flexibility for simulating integrated systems.

Susequently, three case studies are presented to effectively illustrate how users can derive benefits from employing this modeling framework to address the current research questions. Noteworthy, global findings include the potential benefits of delaying thermal screen deployment and the significant operational cost reductions achievable through the integration of heat pumps in conventional combined heat and power (CHP) systems coupled with thermal energy storage, or through a hybrid electrical-heat-driven control of the CHP unit.

Finally, the developed modeling framework is employed to examine the viability of innovative low-carbon energy sources for greenhouses.
In particular, the utilization of thermal energy storage in shallow alluvial aquifers is suggested as a sustainable solution for meeting the energy requirements of greenhouses. Despite initial energy imbalances, the findings underscore the viability of a sustainable system in Atlantic climate with precise calibration of the greenhouse climate controller.