Growing vegetables in greenhouses in Denmark requires energy and heat – plenty of heat. Therefore, the heat exchange station at Østervang Sjælland can be compared with a medium-sized power plant.
The large solar field can produce up to 60 MWh on a sunny day, but since the energy must be used early the next morning, it will be stored in the 4.800 m3 large storage tank that can accommodate up to 5 days’ full solar production. When the control of temperature and humidity is properly managed, the use of chemical disease control can be reduced significantly, thereby making it possible to produce healthier and more environmentally friendly vegetables. The technique of controlling heat and moisture is used by most major players in the greenhouse industry, but usually, the heat comes from boiler plants based on coal or gas.