Key Takeaways:
- Innovative Collaboration: V-FAST, a consortium of four British companies, is revolutionizing UK agriculture with support from Innovate UK and the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council.
- Low-Emission Vertical Farming: The project focuses on developing hectare+ scale vertical farms using renewable energy and RheEnergise’s High-Density Hydro® energy storage to grow protein-rich crops.
- Strategic Site Selection: With the new grant, V-FAST expands its site feasibility studies across the UK, aiming to supply fresh foods to a significant portion of the Scottish population.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: The consortium combines vertical farming technology, renewable energy, and academic research, fostering a sustainable agricultural future.
- Advanced Farming Techniques: V-FAST employs soil-free growing, minimal resource usage, and controlled environments, significantly increasing food production efficiency compared to traditional farming.
A consortium of four British companies, including UK Urban AgriTech (UKUAT), Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd, RheEnergise, and The James Hutton Institute, has recently received a substantial grant from the UK Government. This funding is set to propel the development of innovative, low-carbon, and cost-effective food production methods. Specifically, the V-FAST consortium will explore integrating energy storage systems with vertical farming to establish a low-emission pathway for cultivating protein-rich crops in controlled environments.
The previous year, V-FAST – a Vertical Farming And Storage Technologies acronym – began scouting locations in Scotland’s Central Belt to establish next-generation vertical farms. These farms envisioned to be powered entirely by renewable energy sources and utilizing RheEnergise’s High-Density Hydro® energy storage system, aim to provide fresh, locally-produced foods like salads and fruits to over 60% of Scotland’s population. This initiative aligns well with the Scottish Government’s ambition to increase domestic production of fruits and vegetables.
With the recent financial support from Innovate UK and the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council, V-FAST is set to expand its site feasibility studies across the UK. Employing Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the consortium will identify and evaluate suitable locations for vertical farms that synergize with renewable energy sources and high-density energy storage. Additionally, V-FAST plans to conduct crop trials to optimize energy-efficient climate conditions for agriculture.
Mark Horler, Chairman of UKUAT, expressed his enthusiasm, noting the recognition and potential of their work by Innovate UK and BBSRC. He emphasized the consortium’s goal to provide high-quality food at lower costs than typical indoor farms, especially critical in times of rising inflation.
Stephen Crosher, CEO of RheEnergise, highlighted the project’s efficiency and sustainability. He explained that a single-hectare-scale vertical farm could sustain a town of 10,000 homes for a year, and a RheEnergise project could meet the energy storage needs of a town of similar size. The project uniquely combines wind, solar, energy storage, and vertical farming in one location, often using the same land area to maximize land-use efficiency. It also leverages lower-quality land, which could be better for traditional farming.
Tanveer Khan, Head of Science at IGS, and Professor Derek Stewart from The James Hutton Institute underscored the project’s interdisciplinary and futuristic approach. This collaboration aims to advance the UK’s agricultural industry through innovative tools and processes.
V-FAST’s next-generation vertical farms utilize advanced soil-free growing techniques, stacking crops in specially designed beds and trays. These farms significantly reduce water, fertilizer, and pesticide usage, benefiting the environment. They also employ artificial lighting and climate control for optimal growth conditions. The first V-FAST project, estimated at £28m, is expected to be completed by 2026, featuring a 10,000m3 vertical farming area and 80MWh of energy storage, producing 20 to 30 times more food than traditional open-field farming of the same size.
Image provided by V-Fast
