Located approximately 10 miles northward of Buffalo in North Tonawanda , Wheatfield Gardens is a 550,000 square feet aquicultural indoor agrarian quickness producing high - value crop with energy - effective technology . Since 2015 , Paal Elfstrum , the CEO and founder of Wheatfield Gardens , has work to regenerate the facility . When the chance presented itself to instal a next - multiplication , adaptive lighting ascendancy system of rules , Elfstrum did not waver .
In 2018 , Wheatfield Gardens installed dimmable LEDs offer a Christ Within spectrum control along with a limen - base controller . " The original light-colored controller was very comprehensive , ” said Elfstrum , “ but it was over - engineered for the purpose of control the lights and what we wanted it to do . ”
Two plot of ground were configured for the same daily luminosity inherent ( DLI ) target . The existing controller was programme to close off temporarily whenever combined sun and supplemental light transcend a verge of 500 micromoles , and the adaptive lighting controller was initially programmed to prioritise achieving the DLI object and after updated for maximum energy savings through mastery instructions , restrain light yield to 50 % prior to 9:00 am to quash overshooting the DLI .
“ We can vie in the wintertime because of light-emitting diode lights . When the Sunday comes out in winter , we pick up enough light for the controller to mechanically close off the Inner Light and save energy , " enounce Paal Elfstrum , chief executive officer and father of Wheatfield Gardens Electricity .
Each plot of land was meter over a seven - month period to appraise comparative vigour carrying into action . Crop performance was independently monitored during this period , which included photograph documentation of the crops during increment and transcription lettuce head exercising weight at harvest .
In summation to forthwith meter free energy usage in each plot , the vitality saving potential of the controller was modeled using the on / off and dim signals monitor by Candidus software program . reckon energy savings was severally verify to conform exactly with the metered vigor use in the test grouping .
ResultsUsing the modeled mastery game service line showed hearty get-up-and-go saving potential drop for the adaptive lighting restrainer . Energy economy was or so 4.4 % in January , but increased as the day became longer , eventually accomplish 52.2 % in May . Energy savings potential drop in winter is lower due to limited sunlight and less chance for blind supplemental lights during the spark - on period . The supplemental lighting system operating at full volume was deficient to achieve the target DLI , resulting in both the control and test patch lighting fixtures operating at full power almost unendingly in January .
final result of the psychoanalysis indicated an estimated annual energy savings of approximately 8.1 kWh / ft2 , assuming a basic on / off lighting ascendancy scheme as the service line . add the adaptive light controller on one acre would yield a elementary payback full point run from approximately 3.6 months ( with an electrical energy cost of $ 0.05 / kWh ) to 2.5 month ( with an electrical energy cost of $ 0.10 / kWh ) .
The effect of the crop monitoring showed no important deviation in the visual visual aspect or weight of the butterhead lettuce chief .
BenefitsElfstrum said the real advantage of establish the Candidus controller is the power to dim lights on an fighting basis for monetary value and vim savings . “ When the sun comes out in winter , we receive enough lighting for the controller to automatically shut off the lights and save energy . ”
Elfstrum also like the comptroller ’s power to give chase trends and lighting use history . “ The controller has the functionality that we want , ” he said . “ It is more visceral than any other controllers we considered as it was design specifically for produce . Many controllers have been designed by light company engineers with no farming experience . ”
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