Innogrow develops and sells a new type of greenhouse, called GeslotenKas®. By closing the windows of a greenhouse and providing it with an integrated climate and energy system, maximal control is obtained over the growth factors and energy use. The closed greenhouse also functions as an energy source. Excess heat is saved in a seasonal energy storage. All of this results in a lower energy use, together with an increase in production.
To improve the design of the Geslotenkas® and to evaluate testing results, several models are used:
These models result in complex, numerical yearly simulations, with time steps of hours or even 5 minutes, with numerous input parameters. One goal is to arrive at a coupled optimization of these four models. In other words: an optimal control over the greenhouse conditions (1) at the lowest possible costs (4) with the lowest possible energy use (2), while producing as much as possible (3), yielding the highest possible profit (4).
Suggestions for problems: