Four energy efficiency measures to grow your agricultural operation

4-minute read

The Efficient Solutions Program – Farming Component offers owners and operators of a greenhouse or farming operation financial assistance to implement energy efficiency measures.

These measures provide substantial recurrent electricity savings as well as increased productivity once facilities are optimized. Learn about four measures designed to help farms increase profitability through energy efficiency.

Fuelling the profitability of greenhouses

Hydro‑Québec created the Innovative Greenhouses module to meet the needs of greenhouse operators and offer significant financial assistance for efficient measures.

Heat pumps: A clear advantage for heating and dehumidifying your greenhouse

Temperature setting is key to your greenhouse’s performance, and heating and dehumidifying account for a significant portion of your electricity costs. Investing in a heat pump is a wise decision. This equipment recovers thermal energy—heat or cold—from outside and transfers it into the greenhouse. Two technologies are available for your facilities:

  • Aerothermal heat pumps, which use the thermal energy in the air
  • Geothermal heat pumps, which take thermal energy from the ground

Heat pumps can be integrated with various hot-air and hot-water systems.

Accumulation reservoirs for optimal heating

To optimize the electricity use of your hot-water heating system, have you considered using an accumulation reservoir? With this system, once the greenhouse’s heating needs have been met, heat can be stored and used when necessary. When combined with a heat pump, it can reduce the equipment’s power demand by 5% to 30%.

Opt for more efficient lighting products

LED lighting for photosynthesis: Now that’s a bright idea!

What technology can you adopt to save 30% to 50% of the electricity needed to light your plants? LED lighting for horticultural purposes (photosynthesis) is just what you need. For a fraction of the energy used by traditional lighting, this technology draws on a customizable light spectrum, which leads to improved crop quality. The funding is determined based on the amount of natural light in a greenhouse or a closed building:

  • Greenhouse with natural light: $40 to $500
  • Building without natural light: $80 to $1000

LED lighting for all your buildings

LED lighting is a smart choice in all buildings, including for general lighting. This measure generates energy savings of 20% to 70%.

The funding associated with LED lighting products for general purposes is determined as follows:

  • LED lighting fixture: financial assistance from $10 to $50 each
  • LED lamp or retrofit kit: financial assistance of $15 each

But that’s not all!

The Efficient Solutions Program includes more than 200 measures – including for fans, milking equipment and piglet warmers – to help you boost your agricultural operation’s productivity. Check it out!

Learn more about the Efficient Solutions Program – Farming Component