Growing your greenhouse business faster with gas engines. Our combined heat and power engines can increase the efficiency and profitability of your greenhouses. Because it s not just your plants that need to grow.
The Greenhouse Horticulture Industry A global increase in both food demand and environmental awareness has led to a rapid rise in the greenhouse horticulture industry. That is because greenhouses today have the ability to simultaneously increase the viability of their crops and effectively control carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. GE s technology can provide you with heat, electricity and CO 2 fertilization, increasing your greenhouse s total efficiency, profitability and plant production. Today, more than 1,000 Jenbacher cogeneration units with CO 2 fertilization have been installed worldwide, providing about 1,900 MW of power. Facing significant challenges Although the greenhouse horticulture industry is growing rapidly, greenhouse growers and plant owners face substantial challenges, too: increasing production costs, access to cold storage, lack of proper transportation infrastructure, and growing governmental regulations. As a result, you need ways to increase the efficiency of your horticulture production while meeting new governmental requirements. Faster growth with gas engines GE s Jenbacher combined heat and power (CHP) systems not only provide electricity for onsite or public grid use, but also heat and CO 2 to fertilize plants and meet the requirements of an efficient greenhouse. By increasing the intensity of the artificial lighting that is found in some greenhouses, plants absorb even more CO 2. Plant growth and the subsequent harvest yield can be significantly increased by enriching the greenhouse environment with CO 2, keeping the temperature constant, and providing sufficient lighting.
How does combined heat and power work in greenhouses? The Jenbacher concept The energy created by gas engine cogeneration systems in greenhouses can be used in various ways. The electricity can provide the power for artificial lighting and/or be fed into the public grid. And while the heat can efficiently meet the greenhouse s requirements, the CO 2 from the engine exhaust gas can help fertilize the plants. That is because the exhaust from gas engines burning natural gas contains approximately 0.2 kg of CO 2 per kwh of energy input. After the purification of the exhaust gas with special catalytic converters (SCR and oxidation catalytic converters), it is cooled down by a heat exchanger to approximately 55 C and supplied to the greenhouse for CO 2 enrichment. A device that constantly measures the exhaust gas levels helps ensure the vegetation s safety.
Jenbacher greenhouse technology advantages Higher efficiency Our system takes less than 12 months to construct and can achieve overall efficiency levels of 95 percent or more. Lower emissions CO 2 captured during power production helps increase crop production. CO 2 fertilization With 50 percent less heat output than a boiler, the CO 2 level can be doubled for crop efficiency increases up to 140 percent. Standardized design Flexible power Produced thermal energy can be stored for use as needed. Electricity can be fed into the public grid or used for artificial lighting, and we offer an optional full island lighting control system. Our compact modular design creates a small footprint and can be adjusted to your spatial requirements. Framework requirements Efficient operation is possible with approximately 1 hectare (2.47 acres) or larger greenhouses CO 2 fertilization is suitable for all crop types while artificial illumination is primarily suitable for vegetables (such as tomatoes or peppers) and flowers (such as chrysanthemums or roses) - CO 2 fertilization with simultaneous heat supply: dimensioning for 0.5 MW el /ha - CO 2 fertilization with simultaneous heat supply and illumination: dimensioning for 0.35 MW el /ha
GE s Jenbacher gas engines Greenhouse cogeneration product range 0.5 MW Reciprocating Engines 10 MW Type 3 500 kw 1 MW Type 4 800 kw 1.5 MW Type 6 1.5 MW 4.4 MW Type 9 9.5 MW GE s Jenbacher gas engines have a track record of more than half a century and over 13,500 installations. The main production facility, located in Jenbacher, Austria, leads the development and production of gas-fueled reciprocating engines, packaged generator sets, and cogeneration units for the efficient generation of power and heat. GE s Jenbacher gas engines range in power from 200 kw to 9.5 MW, and run on either natural gas or a variety of other gases (e.g., biogas, landfill gas, coal mine gas, sewage gas, combustible industrial waste gases). GE s convenient greenhouse package With our standardized greenhouse cogeneration technology, the Jenbacher gas engine, catalytic converter, heat exchanger and all balance of plant equipment and controls are provided in one convenient package. GE s greenhouse experts can help develop your balance-of-plant specifications as well as perform engineering and site and design work to meet your spatial requirements. Our standardized package makes your service experience easier, too, since the generator and all other installations can be removed at the same time. + + = Jenbacher gas engine Balance of Plant Service Complete installation
A smart addition: Economics from Greenhouse CHP The following case study, based on a real project in the U.S., highlights the economic benefits of the CHP solution for greenhouses. Please note that results may vary according to local conditions, such as incentives and gas prices. The economic benefits of the CHP solution for greenhouses can be seen at a 25-acre (10-hectare) tomato greenhouse in the U.S. when compared to an installation with natural gas-fired boilers. The greenhouse illustrated here has installed a Jenbacher J624 gas engine with two-stage turbocharging and an output of 4.35 MW. It runs 6,600 hours per year and has heat coverage of 73.5 percent. Before After The breakdown - Operating income increased by 62 percent through sales of excess power - Installed system cost was $7 million, 80 percent of which was debt-financed at a 6 percent interest rate for 10 years - Pre-tax payback is projected at 4.7 years Profits shown are based on a 25-acre (10-hectare) tomato greenhouse in the U.S.
GE s full range of service offerings can increase the availability and productivity of your plant. We support your gas engine needs by providing the right service at the right time through-out the entire operating life of your Jenbacher engines flexibly, conveniently and efficiently. Our strong customer focus, value-added offerings, local support, and remote service capabilities are the keys to your satisfaction and your success. Remote monitoring and diagnostics GE s Greenhouse Center of Excellence in the Netherlands provides online monitoring and diagnostics to more than 1,000 greenhouse cogeneration facilities around the world. It is also home to our 24-hour global hotline. In addition, myplant* enables us to monitor and control your global fleet of Jenbacher gas engines. myplant technology transmits sensor data back to our enterprise servers so that we can calculate your plant s operational state, predict faults and analyze any issues. The data also provides a complete history of your Jenbacher gas engines, which helps us more quickly and accurately diagnose any problems. More than half the time, we are able to restore your engines to service without even sending an engineer to the plant. In addition to our remote diagnostic capabilities, GE s myplant technology allows you to monitor the operational state of your global fleet of Jenbacher gas engines from a single integrated, user-friendly platform. *Trademark of General Electric Company
Reference At GE, our tradition is innovation. Working with the Dutch horticulturalists who pioneered CO 2 fertilization in greenhouses, we have based our worldwide Center of Excellence for cogeneration in greenhouses at our facility in the Netherlands. In addition, we have three other global research centers at our disposal. Plus, more than 400 engineers continuously work on the technological development of reciprocating engines. Their task is to develop more flexible, efficient, powerful and reliable energy solutions always with your needs in mind. The Netherlands Kelvinring 58 2952 BG Alblasserdam T +31 (0)88 0019700 F +31 (0)88 0019701 jenbacher.netherlands@ge.com 20 1000 100 - delivered fleet - download reference sheet - play video link
GE Power & Water s is a leading provider of power equipment, engines and services, focused on power generation at or near the point of use. s product portfolio includes highly efficient industrial reciprocating engines and aeroderivative gas turbines that generate 200 kw to 100 MW of power for numerous industries globally. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, employs more than 4,500 people around the world. Main production facility for Jenbacher gas engines, Jenbach, Austria For more information on Jenbacher gas engines: www.ge-distributedpower.com