Comprehensive Greenhouse Model for Demand Simulation and Design of Geo-Solar Energy Supply System Based on Geothermal and Solar Energy

Abstract

The paper presents a comprehensive greenhouse model for analyzing energy demand of different applications and designing a geo-solar energy supply system. First, the minimum useful energy required for different applications such as lighting, cooling/heating, irrigation and so on is evaluated based on the required indoor conditions for the plants in the greenhouse and weather conditions of the place where the greenhouse is located in. The demand model is a zero dimensional model that divides a greenhouse into adequate zones to provide sufficient accuracy to estimate the greenhouse’s indoor condition. As known, the main demand is heating/cooling loads. Second, the supply energy system based on geothermal and solar energy is designed. The geo-solar energy system is anticipated to have minimum overall cost, meanwhile satisfies the energy demand of the greenhouse. Energy conversion technologies utilized in the energy supply system are transparent photovoltaic and geothermal heat pump. The results signify that the combination of the geothermal energy conversion technologies with transparent photovoltaic system is prone to impose lower overall cost compared to the conventional energy supply systems in greenhouses.