Key Takeaways:
- Innovative Research Initiative: The greenhouse horticulture sector is exploring how to capture CO2 from the outside air to sustain plant growth in greenhouses.
- Transition from Natural Gas: As the industry moves away from natural gas due to sustainability goals, alternative CO2 sources are essential.
- New Research Facility: Wageningen University & Research has opened the Innovation and Demonstration Center (IDC) CO2 from Outdoor Air to spearhead this initiative.
- Government Support: The Dutch Minister of Agriculture supports the sector’s goal to become climate-neutral by 2040.
- Testing New Technologies: Six different systems for capturing CO2 from the air will be tested at the IDC through 2026.
Overview of the CO2 Capture Initiative
The greenhouse horticulture sector in the Netherlands is actively researching new methods to capture CO2 from outdoor air, marking a significant shift in how greenhouses source this essential gas. Traditionally reliant on CO2 generated from the combustion of natural gas, the sector is transitioning towards more sustainable and climate-neutral operations.
Launch of the Innovation and Demonstration Center
The new outdoor air CO2 capture research is being conducted at the Innovation and Demonstration Center (IDC) CO2 from Outdoor Air, part of Wageningen University & Research’s Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture in Bleiswijk. The center was officially opened on April 22, 2024, by the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Piet Adema, who praised the sector’s sustainability and technological innovation leadership.
Importance of CO2 for Plant Growth
CO2 is a crucial component for plant growth, and the current major source—natural gas combustion—is becoming less viable due to environmental concerns and the industry’s shift towards sustainability. The need for alternative sources has become more pressing, with outdoor air identified as a promising option.
Statements from Industry Leaders
Adri Bom-Lemstra, Chairman of Glastuinbouw Nederland, expressed optimism about the potential of the IDC to address one of the major challenges in the sector: “If we succeed in capturing sufficiently pure CO2 from outside air in an affordable manner, we can solve this bottleneck. The IDC can play an important role in this.”
Research Goals and Future Outlook
Alexander Boedijn, a researcher at WUR Greenhouse Horticulture, outlined the project’s objectives, stating, “In this project we are investigating the feasibility of these systems, including the quality of CO2 for plants, the energy consumption of CO2 capture, and how these systems can be optimally applied in greenhouses.” By 2026, six different CO2 capture systems will be tested at the IDC to evaluate their practicality and efficiency.
Image provided by Wageningen University & Research
