August 2023 - 16

CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
ELECTRIFICATION
IMPACTS
On Indoor Farming and Controlled Environments
Controlling your greenhouse environment is necessary for the successful production
of plants, but the increasing use of electricity is presenting new challenges.
BY DAVID SHILLER
T
he primary strategy of local, state and national
governments to address climate change is rapid
electrification of building heating and cooling, hot
water and the transportation sectors. Simultaneously, the
electrical generation mix will gradually transition from
fossil fuels - carbon-emitting sources - to renewable
sources such as wind and solar and additional nuclear
power plants.
Governments pursue electrification because it is
the simplest strategy to address climate change and
greenhouse gas emissions; however, it will be a bumpy
ride that will impact every individual and business. The
indoor farming industry will be no exception. Here are
some of the ways that rapid electrification will impact
the indoor farming industry:
TIGHTENING BUILDING CODES
Building energy codes are getting stricter and
promoting electrification. For example, California's
Title 24 energy code now sets lighting efficiency that
makes HPS illegal to install, as well as lighting control
requirements for new " controlled environment horticulture
(CEH). " New York State just passed a ban on natural gas
hookups in some new commercial buildings. In addition,
ASHRAE 90.1 has recently expanded its scope to include
site equipment not attached to buildings, such as
renewable power and battery energy storage. It also
tightened energy efficiency requirements.
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AUGUST 2023 GPNMAG.COM
ELECTRIFICATION OF FARM VEHICLES
AND EQUIPMENT
Just as a transition is underway to electric cars, buses
and trucks, it is occurring for farm equipment including
electric tractors, forklifts and other vehicles. Although
electric vehicles (EV) and equipment have some advantages,
this could double a farm's electricity use over time and
require significant upgrades to electrical infrastructure
to support the increased demand. This infrastructure can
include new transformers leading to the facility, additional
breaker boxes and, of course, EV chargers.
ELECTRIC HEATING OF INDOOR
FARMING FACILITIES
One of the primary challenges of electrification is
converting all types of buildings from burning natural gas
or heating oil to electric heat pumps. The most efficient
heat pumps are geothermal; however, these systems
typically require significant initial cost to install a ground
loop, which is underground piping that exchanges heat
between the heating system and the Earth. Just as with
electrifying farm vehicles, converting to electric heat pumps
can also lead to increased electrical infrastructure costs.
RISING ELECTRICITY RATES
There are significant cost increases occurring for
equipment required by electric utilities. The national
average electricity price increased nearly 11% from 2021
http://www.GPNMAG.COM
August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2023
