Innovative insulation system for large scale greenhouses to cut CO2 and increase productivity

Agriculture produces 9% of the UK's greenhouse gases (GHG) and over 30% of GHG globally. With growing population and stark logistical limitations created by COVID-19 the nation needs greater agricultural independence and to reduce the sectors energy needs and carbon emissions. Large-scale commercial greenhouses, especially those with precision technologies (CEA), allow greater productivity of fresh produces and have potential to increase the UK domestic production, but these systems have a high initial capital investment and operations costs, which can result in variable economic return-on-investment and low margins.

The Envirup insulation technology addresses the need for sustainable recovery with a novel design for energy-efficient cost-effective greenhouses. An initial assessment of the innovation was conducted by the University of Wolverhampton's Built Environment Climate Change Innovations (BECCI) initiative using software-based model (WUFI Plus). They concluded that the Envirup insulation system rate of heat-transfer (Uw value) of 2.7 compares significantly better than 5 for glass and 4.8 for multi-wall polycarbonate greenhouses. This could increase the growing season by 11% and reduce energy costs by 10%. The reduced running costs will increase economic return-on-investment in new greenhouses and leverage development and uptake of new precision-technologies increasingly being evaluated for use in this sector, and increase the range of crops grown in greenhouses.

The rigid structure of the panel, made from easily recyclable polymers, requires significantly less of the aluminium framing required by glass and polycarbonate sheeting, the product allows in more light and reduced construction costs and more secure walling to withstand challenging weather conditions.

This innovation could unlock the growth of low carbon, low energy, highly efficient large-scale greenhouse-based UK agriculture, including Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems. In addition to helping the UK to increase domestic production of fresh vegetables and fruits and reducing the seasonality of the sector, this innovation seeks help reduce the environmental footprint of greenhouse-based agriculture around world to tackle the sectors contribution to global CO2 emissions. Increasing local production will also reduce the need to transport fresh produces across the planet, and reduce emissions from cold storage and transportation too, as well as answering retailers and consumers concerns with food provenance and 'low food-miles' products.

This project brings together the innovator, industry specialist, system manufacturers and consumer perspective to carry out detailed feasibility study, define attractive business model, technical design set, carry out further software modelling and set the foundations for a UK and international commercialisation plan.