Reducing carbon emissions from plant factories with artificial lighting

Publication date: 14/09/2023
Extent: 28 pages

Contributions by: Toyoki Kozai, Japan Plant Factory Association, Japan

Chapter synopsis:

Plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) must fulfill the following basic requirements to help solve global and local issues relating to food, resources, environment, and quality of life: minimal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from construction and operation, high resource and economic productivity with minimal resource inputs and waste outputs through use of natural energy. The following issues are crucial to meet the above requirements: 1) efficient use of resources, such as electricity, water, and fertilizer in PFAL operation, and structural elements such as metals and cement in PFAL construction; 2) optimal environmental control of cultivation rooms for maximum resource and monetary productivities; 3) maximum use of alternatives to plastic products, chemical fertilizer, metals, and cement, and 4) use of electricity generated locally by natural energy. This chapter discusses the actions required to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) or GHG in the PFAL industry, and improve resource use efficiency, particularly electrical energy use efficiency.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2023.0126.02