Arcadia Chrysanten

Last September, growers were once again able to apply for subsidies under the Energy Efficiency Greenhouse Horticulture (EG) scheme, with €30 million in funding available. For heat recovery through dehumidification and air treatment, the subsidy rate increased to 30%. The sector is aiming to use less gas, increase electrification and manage the greenhouse climate more intelligently.

Bart van Ruijven, co-owner of Arcadia Chrysanten in De Lier, recognises this challenge. “The government is imposing increasingly heavy taxes on gas. So from a financial perspective, you really need to move away from gas. But then electricity becomes more expensive too. Those are the difficult issues.”

18 hectares on a single connection

Arcadia grows around 35 varieties of chrysanthemums. In recent years, the company has consolidated its cultivation activities: three greenhouses covering 18 hectares, all connected to a single electricity connection and a single gas connection.

“The more electricity you use, the lower your grid costs and taxes become. The rates are structured in tiers,” Bart explains. “If you have 18 hectares spread across five locations, you go through all those tiers five times. Here, we only go through them once.”

Cool air, no heating coil

In 2015, Arcadia began integrating air handling units (AHUs). The newest greenhouse features a new version with an insulated air duct, eliminating the need for a heating coil and allowing the capacity to be doubled.

This unit required a different control strategy. “I noticed that heat was being introduced into the air duct even though I actually wanted to cool the greenhouse,” Bart explains. “So I was using heat that I didn’t even want.”

He also wanted to control the system based on absolute humidity (AH) rather than relative humidity (RH). “These days, I focus more on AH than RH.” The more accurately Arcadia can maintain the required humidity level in this way, the more energy-efficiently the installation can operate.

An additional layer of flexibility

Bart raised the issue with both Priva and Stolze. Priva proposed a pilot using Priva Blue ID, a controller that the company also uses in commercial buildings. “They developed that component, and it works within my Priva system,” Bart says.

“We listened carefully: what do you want to achieve and what challenges are you facing?” says Rudy van den Berg, Horti Account Manager at Priva. “We developed a new standard control solution for this. A smarter, more flexible controller now acts as an interface between the Priva computer and the air handling unit. This means expensive customisation is not necessary.”

Installation and commissioning took just under a week. Priva and Stolze are now working with Bart to fine-tune the final details.

Lighting that adapts

The lighting also needs to become smarter. “Most of the time, the discussion is about the lights,” Bart says. “Developments are moving very quickly in that area. Switchable lighting, different colours.”

“Arcadia aims to make its cultivation process as efficient as possible, with the right light spectrum and intensity provided at exactly the right moments,” says Youri de Zeeuw of Signify. “That is why they chose Philips GreenPower toplighting force in combination with the GrowWise Control System, which is integrated into the Priva climate computer. This allows the light spectrum and intensity to be fully controlled, preparing Arcadia for the future.”

Eleven years of building together

The greenhouse on Burgemeester van Doornlaan was the first newly built greenhouse for Arcadia in which Stolze installed air handling units, back in 2015. Since then, Stolze has been involved in all of Arcadia’s new-build projects, approximately one every two years, following the same technical approach. The transition to LED lighting was also carried out through Stolze.

“Personal contact, short lines of communication and a solution-oriented approach. That’s how I prefer to work,” says Bart. “I sometimes say: this isn’t a project. It’s simply an ongoing partnership.”

“We like to sit down with the customer to understand the challenges they are facing and hear their ideas,” says Carel van Ruijven, Technical Advisor at Stolze. “With Arcadia, we are often involved at an early stage, which always leads to new ideas. There is also room for dialogue during implementation, allowing us to make the right decisions together.”

Next step: storing heat underground

Between the three greenhouses is the company’s sustainability centre, which includes a buffer tank. A connection to geothermal energy is on the way. Next year, Arcadia plans to recover heat from residual energy streams and store it underground.

“Store it in summer and bring it back up again in winter,” Bart explains. “In winter, you can drain a buffer tank within just a few weeks. The time has come to think bigger. That’s simply not something you can do for a four-hectare greenhouse.”

Ready to take the next step with air handling, lighting or climate control?

Are you looking to electrify your greenhouse, control your AHUs or lighting more intelligently, or are you planning a new-build project? Stolze is ready to work with you, together with partners such as Priva and Signify. Email sales@stolze.nl to explore the possibilities for your business.