Our new AIR greenhouse

Michael Ploeg, Dalsem:
“Our new Dalsem AIR greenhouse is a sustainable, integrated, complete solution for optimising the climate”
There's a new greenhouse on the block! It's the Dalsem Air and according to Michael Ploeg, export area manager with Dalsem, the new greenhouse makes use of physical and plant-balance principles to create the optimal greenhouse climate with minimal energy use. "The current horticulture requires new sustainable and energy efficient growing techniques and solutions”.

Michael explains: “During the development of Dalsem Air we have taken a good look at the insights gained from the “Next Generation Growing” according to the Growing by Plant Empowerment principles. The Dalsem Air offers a significant improvement of the greenhouse climate and homogeneous climate to further optimize plant growing and yields.

Less energy and more production
The new Dalsem Air greenhouse is equipped with the Air ventilation system. This innovation by Dalsem forms the heart of the energy efficient climate control system.

Joop van Riessen, export area manager at Dalsem: “This system combines decentralized forced air ventilation with circulation to resemble a natural air flow from above to the crops. By circulating the air in the greenhouse and mixing it with outside air or air from above a closed screen, optimal growing conditions are created inside the greenhouse. A practical and compact ventilation system, strategically placed so with a limited energy use the entire greenhouse can be reached, with the added result of an improved homogeneous climate in the greenhouse.”

The recently launched Dalsem website AIR.nl provides specific explanation about the AIR greenhouse and the strategic advantages of the AIR ventilator.

Michael adds: “Moreover, the decentralization of controlled air intake from outside gives growers the option to cool and/or dehumidify in an energy efficient manner, no limitations if the screens are open or closed. Dehumidifying with a closed screen for a crop under supplementary lighting is now also possible. With the active climate control technique, less ventilation is required and one can retain higher CO₂ levels for longer periods of time. This immediately results in a significant increase of production and reduction of energy costs. The Air greenhouse offers the crop the best balance between temperature, CO2, air humidity, PAR-light and air movement, resulting in an optimal functioning greenhouse.”

“With the AIR greenhouse, we take growing to a higher level”
The Air ventilator is designed based on the Airmix ventilator (patented by the Van der Ende-groep). The air supply duct has been designed by Dalsem (patent pending) and has been equipped with two mechanically linked valves. One of those is a ventilation window for intake of outside air. Michael: “This mechanism enables switching between ventilation by outside air or circulation with air from above the screen. With this ventilation system, we take growing to a higher level. The Air ventilator can be modularly expanded with a heat exchanger, so the recirculated air can also be cooled. The ventilation system has been fully integrated in the greenhouse roof. The air supply duct has been placed between the glass roof panel and trellis girder. The screens have been adapted to ensure a perfect fit around the duct.” This ventilation system allows the use of single or double screen systems without any limitation to open or close. And of course, a roof washer can perform its usual job on the roof with Air.

Data Driven Growing
Joop: “Each grower has his own ‘green fingers approach’ and own interpretation of the growing data, based on which he makes decisions concerning the control of the greenhouse climate. Combining data analysis with today’s technology makes data driven growing effective. Growers are not only able to improve the quality and yield of their existing crops, and therefore maximize their profit, but can also manage a larger production area with less effort. To make optimal use of the Air ventilator, during the introduction, we cooperate with Hoogendoorn Growth Management and LetsGrow.com. With this cooperation, Dalsem can offer growers an integrated Data Driven Growing complete solution.”

An integrated complete solution
“With Dalsem, there has been a focus on the greenhouse climate. The Dalsem Air Sustainable Greenhouse Growing Solution gives the grower a better control of the greenhouse climate, supported by a facts & figures based data driven growing strategy which results in higher production, improved quality and more efficient use of energy and means.” A more proactive approach instead of traditional green fingers. We detect an increased awareness of sustainability in customers. With our ventilation systems, you can keep the windows closed for a longer period and therefore limit the loss of CO2.

Read our full article on Hortidaily.com