Separate control of heat and light

Leo van der Harg has a 36,000 m2 cultivation space at its disposal. In 2013, it added to this with a new 7,000 m2 greenhouse that would be used for blooming. Prior to construction of the new greenhouse, the crop was lit by HPS. This kind of system produces both heat and light, meaning that the two factors cannot be controlled independently. During the winter this is not normally a problem, but in spring and autumn it can be restricting.

Leo van der Harg, the company owner, had his sights set on LED. "Other projects have already proved that the installation of LED solutions facilitates management," he explains. "This combination makes it easier to control the growing conditions. Because LEDs do not generate any radiant heat, it is possible to control the temperature and the lighting separately."

A new lighting setup was installed using a compilation of LED and HPS grow light systems. The crop is illuminated for 5,000 hours a year, during 1,000 of which it is illuminated either only by LED or only by HPS. The type of lighting that is used during these 1,000 hours depends on the temperature in the greenhouse. This improved level of control results in sturdier, better quality plants – all year round.

The energy savings achieved by the new greenhouse lighting are more than 10%. Leo van der Harg reports that "the investment will pay for itself straight away, not just because of the energy savings, but also because of the improvement in plant quality."