Conference Agenda

Vertical farming enables year-round food production but remains constrained by high energy demand, particularly in cold regions. This study evaluated energy consumption in a pilot Smart Vertical Farming (SVF) facility in Manitoba, Canada, where winter conditions increase heating demand in conventional greenhouses.

The insulated wood-frame unit (4.9 m × 2.4 m × 3.7 m) integrated vertical wall and multi-tier growing systems, HVAC, and IoT-based environmental controls. An energy model was developed to estimate lettuce production energy use and validated through crop trials (butterhead lettuce, looseleaf lettuce, and kale) conducted in fall (September–October 2024) and winter (January–February 2024). Energy consumption of LED lighting, HVAC, irrigation, and control systems was monitored and compared with model predictions.

LED lighting and HVAC were the dominant loads. In fall, lighting and HVAC accounted for 46% and 52% of total energy use; in winter, lighting increased to 70% while HVAC decreased to 28%. Monthly energy use intensity was higher in fall (63 kWh m⁻²) than winter (44 kWh m⁻²). Annualized consumption (517–773 kWh m⁻² yr⁻¹) was lower than comparable studies. Follow-up evaluation trials will be conducted in spring, summer, and fall 2026 to enable cross-seasonal comparison and further model validation.

Over the past few decades, the application of renewable energy technologies and technologies to increase energy efficiency in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) has received widespread attention internationally. In China, CEA industry is experiencing rapid development, transformation, and upgrading. In 2023, the cumulative area of greenhouses in China was 1835.87 million ha. Nevertheless, there is a need for further scientific and technological innovation, especially on the implementation of low-carbon energy systems for the sustainable develop-ment of the sector. This paper reviews emerging renewable energy technologies, especially latest photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies and their application in the field of controlled environment agriculture. Special attention is given to agrivoltaics integrated with CEA—greenhouses co‑located with solar arrays to share land, reduce shading losses, and supply on‑site renewable power; Autono-mous climate‑control systems that use AI to minimize energy consumption for heating, cooling, and lighting, improving sustainability in renewable‑powered greenhouses; High‑efficiency vertical farming systems designed for renewa-ble‑powered LED lighting and optimized microclimates, boosting productivity while lowering energy intensity; Precision‑agriculture technologies that reduce energy and water use, making CEA more viable. Current problems are highlight-ed, development opportunities are discussed, and measures are detailed for tack-ling energy problems in the sector for increasing production quantity and quality.

Solar Irrigation Pumps often lack digital management and reliable connectivity, resulting in inefficient energy use and missed opportunities to distribute surplus energy to other productive applications. This research develops an integrated solar-powered energy management system at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) that combines a pump, cold storage, and fruit dryer. To overcome internet limitations, a hybrid edge-cloud architecture was implemented using LoRa-based environmental sensors and RS-485 energy meters. Data is processed on-site using Python with cloud synchronization, and Grafana is used for the dashboard, enabling real-time on-site monitoring. At the BAU site, a 4.95kW solar-hybrid system meets 58.3% (17.52 kWh) of the 30.04 kWh daily demand. While the system powers a 26.4 kWh cold storage unit per day, an irrigation pump (1.39 kWh), and fruit dryer (2.25 kWh/day), the national grid still provides 41.7% of energy during the nighttime. Furthermore, on low-activity days, 4.01 kWh of solar energy is wasted due to battery capacity constraints. By implementing the proposed automated dispatch and load scheduling, the system transforms management from reactive to proactive, ensuring that wasted solar potential is fully utilized. This integration significantly reduces administrative labor from 14 hours weekly to less than 2 hours—an 85% increase in operational efficiency.

Smartfarm controls the internal temperature environment of greenhouses, creating optimal conditions for crop growth and increasing crop production. Since environmental control efficiency may decrease when external temperatures are excessively high or low, these climatic conditions must be considered during smartfarm design. Applying Korean-style smartfarm designed for temperate climates to the Middle East may result in lower energy efficiency. Therefore, this study utilized TRNSYS to analyze how differences between temperate and Middle Eastern climates affect greenhouse energy loads and developed an initial energy analysis model suitable for the Middle East. Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) data was utilized for the temperate climate (Seoul, Korea) and the Middle Eastern Climate (Abu Dhabi, Middle East), with a Korean greenhouse designated as the target greenhouse. Korea temperatures ranged from –14.55°C to 33.85°C, showing a large annual temperature variation, while Abu Dhabi temperatures ranged from 9.10°C to 45.65°C. The analysis model showed a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.75 and a RMSE of 2.52°C. The TRNSYS-calculated maximum annual cooling load in the Middle East region was 11.5×10³ MJ, while the average cooling load was approximately 8.16× 10⁴MJ. Compared to Korea's average cooling load of 2.87 × 10⁴ MJ, this is about 2.84 times higher.

Rising electricity prices and expiring feed-in tariffs under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) increase the relevance of on-farm electricity self-consumption in Germany. Energy management systems (EnMS) enable monitoring and control of electricity flows to enhance the use of self-generated energy.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether commercially available EnMS increase on-farm energy self-consumption and whether their application is economically viable under current framework conditions

Eight EnMS were installed on eight farms and monitored for up to two years, integrating photovoltaic systems, electrical loads, and storage units where available.

The systems were assessed using technical and economic criteria. None achieved amortization within the commonly assumed five-year depreciation period. Investment costs of up to €16,700, recurring operating expenses, and limited controllable loads or storage capacity constrained economic performance. However, the systems provided reliable monitoring, transparent reporting, and demonstrated robust data security.

Although currently not cost-effective, EnMS improve transparency of on-farm energy flows and may support operational optimization of self-consumption. Future research will examine whether bidirectional charging, dynamic tariffs, and flexible grid fees enhance economic viability.

The AQUASOL EU Horizon project addresses water scarcity in agriculture by developing an advanced, renewable energy-powered platform for desalination and wastewater recycling. While technical efficiency is important, long-term resilience depends on the social integration of the solution. This paper presents the methodological framework and preliminary social insights from the project’s first year, focusing on the farmB-led Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA).

Adhering to UNEP 2020 guidelines and ISO 14040/44 standards, an ex-ante S-LCA is implemented to evaluate social risks and opportunities across the entire value chain—from water extraction to end-of-life brine and e-waste management. The assessment covers six stakeholder categories, including workers, local communities, and farmers, utilizing functional units based on irrigation and permeate production (m³).

To bridge the gap between theoretical S-LCA and real-world application, we present the results of the initial focus group and interviews conducted with farming communities. This primary research explores farmers' perspectives, identifying key barriers to adoption such as perceived technological complexity and initial investment costs, while highlighting social inclusion and community well-being as primary drivers. These preliminary findings establish a roadmap for aligning disruptive desalination technologies with the socio-economic realities of modern agriculture, ensuring a sustainable and just transition for end-users