Hortenergy is an online software that helps to design the most suitable and energy efficient greenhouse.

It simulates inner climate (temperature, humidity) and energy consumption (heating, cooling, dehumidification) of your greenhouse project anywhere in the world.

With Hortinergy, you can:

• Compare different technical solutions and define climate setpoints
• Find the optimal configuration for your objectives
• Reduce your energy costs and improve sustainability

The semi-closed greenhouse model was released two years ago and has been improved thanks to user’s feedback.

1. Modelling the semi-closed greenhouse in Hortinergy

The semi-closed greenhouse model includes:

• A climate control settings
• Equipment
• Regulation

The following equipment can be implemented in the semi-closed model:

• Air ventilation in tubes, including electricity energy consumption,
• Controlled external ventilation for dehumidification,
• Air recirculation in the tubes,
• Adiabatic cooling with pad or fog system.

Crop evapotranspiration model depends on temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, inner air velocity as well as crop type and development.

2. Results of the semi-closed greenhouse model

Hortinergy provides a detailed analysis of the:

• Hourly inner climate in the semi-closed greenhouse
• Energy, electricity and water consumption

Here are the results of a semi-closed greenhouse located in southern France in a hot and dry climate. Cooling and dehumidification are performed by a pad.

Cooling temperature set: 28°C

Inner climate in a semi-closed greenhouse

The results are: temperature, relative humidity, hydric deficit and solar radiation on an hourly basis in the semi-closed greenhouse. The results show that the inner temperature is never higher than 26°C and that the hydric deficit is between 2 and 4.5 g/ kg da.

The results also provide the external airflow, water flow and evapotranspiration.

During night time and in the morning, the external air is blown into the semi-closed greenhouse to dehumidify. During day time, pad is activated for cooling.

Hortinergy is also providing a yearly overview, a monthly synthesis and hourly data of heating, electricity and water consumption.

Annual overview of the energy consumption in the semi-closed greenhouse

Monthly synthesis of the energy consumption in the semi-closed greenhouse

Hourly data of the energy consumption in the semi-closed greenhouse

With Hortinergy, you can simulate screen, closed greenhouse, energy consumption, sustainablity, cannabis greenhouse, supplemental lighting, and calculate carbon taxe rebate. We provide also training on energy  consumption to be a greenhouse designer.