REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ENERGY USE IN TOMATO CULTIVATION IN THE NETHERLANDS: RESEARCH BY SYSTEMS ANALYSIS

Production in Dutch greenhouse cultivation requires use of energy, chemical biocides, fertilizers and water, and leads to the production of waste and artificial light sources in the environment.
Systems analysis can be used to analyze the possibilities and consequences of sustainable development of Dutch greenhouse horticulture.
This paper presents as a first step of such a study an analysis of energy use and CO₂ emission in Dutch tomato cultivation.
This analysis aims at evaluating the cost-effectiveness of energy saving options.
A model is developed which calculates gas use, CO₂ emission reduction and costs of energy saving options in tomato cultivation.
Without application of energy saving options gas use is assumed to be 69 m³/m². Model results indicate that the combi-condenser and the heat buffer are most cost-effective energy saving options and that gas use could be reduced to 47–49 m³/m² at zero net costs.
The associated CO₂ emission reduction relative to 1989/90 is 20–23%.

II Modelling Plant Growth, Environmental Control and Farm Management in Protected Cultivation

J.C. Pluimers

energy saving, CO₂ emission, cost-efficiency, sensitivity analysis, greenhouse

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.456.55