Project Glitch & EnergieEvent Zuidoost-Nederland en Vlaanderen 23 January 2020

The concerns of Dutch greenhouse horticulture entrepreneurs about the increased ODE levy were briefly parked. The enormous interest in the EnergieEvent Zuidoost-Nederland and Flanders on 22 January in Venlo, an initiative of Kas als Energiebron and GLITCH, demonstrated that entrepreneurs in this region have an eye for a sustainable future. They willingly immersed themselves in the wide range of new, promising initiatives.

Knowledge sharing is the credo in the intended transition to a future in which fossil energy is being replaced by sustainable options. A clear signal has already been sent with the cooperation between the research and innovation programs Kas als Energiebron and GLITCH for the organization of the event. Using each other's knowledge and experience is the most efficient way towards the intended end goal. This certainly also applies to growers who have already taken the first steps towards fossil-free use, partly due to their involvement in trials and practical research. During the EnergieEvent Southeast Netherlands and Flanders, results were shared from projects that were carried out in the past year from the aforementioned research programs.

To fossil-free

Sjaak van der Tak, chairman of Greenhouse Horticulture Netherlands opened the afternoon. Of course, he briefly mentioned the ODE problem, which he has dealt with very intensively in recent months. But he also looked forward militantly:

"I am convinced that the future of greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands and Flanders lies in fossil-free." That feeling also prevailed among the more than one hundred participants in the EnergieEvent, who were informed with great interest about the various projects and studies. They were able to choose from twelve topics, which were presented in three workshop rounds. The range varied from lesser-known heat flows in the greenhouse and different types of screens to LEDs in high-wire cucumbers and far-away light in lettuce on water.

Successfully prosecute

There was a great deal of interest in the lectures on research into the limits of flue gases from the CHP, the possibilities of aquathermia, efficient dehumidification and sustainable tomato cultivation with LEDs. But the growers and energy specialists present were also happy to talk about research projects that have already been reviewed in various professional journals over the past year. Such as: future CO2 supply, aids at The New Growing, cucumber cultivation in the Winter Light greenhouse and The New Growing in strawberry. A lot of water will still flow through the Maas for all these projects to be used at glasshouse horticulture companies in the Southeast Netherlands and Flanders region. The fact is that many signals are on green to successfully continue the chosen course. The various projects can also be adequately monitored in 2020 on the websites of Kas als Energiebron and GLITCH.