VER2023:3 Optimized electricity use in cultivation factories

Vertical cultivation is becoming more common, which requires led lighting that consumes alot of energy. Despite technological improvements in LED lighting, an indoor farm can use 100-200 watts per square meter, which means several terawatts per year for a normal-sized grower. Despite their energy consumption, factory farms will become more and more attractive in order to secure food production, produce locally grown and organic food, reduce prices and reach alot of environmental goals on the grid.

We at PlantRobotic Sweden AB want to help the industry optimize lighting. We want to test smarter schemes that analyze the plant and adapt the lighting to the most optimal hourly price for electricity. Research into optimal intensity levels and spectrum exists today, but how to optimize energy consumption based on optimal electricity prices without affecting the plants' productivity still needs more research.