A recently expanded commercial rose greenhouse in the town of Dmitrov, Russia, is using GE Energy's special Jenbacher cogeneration/carbon dioxide (CO2) fertilization system and artificial lighting controls to provide vital onsite power and heat, allowing the greenhouse to increase flower production.
GE's onsite power technology and lighting controls were selected because the site lacked enough power from the local grid to meet the greenhouse's artificial lighting requirements.
The Dalsem Group, a Dutch greenhouse project developer, had the turnkey contract to build the new, six hectare facility for rose producer Tepelichny Podosinki. The facility is located in Dmitrov, 65 kilometers north of Moscow.
GE Energy supplied three of its natural gas-fueled JMS 612 gas engines to support the greenhouse's 5.4-megawatt cogeneration plant. The engines and GE's artificial light control system provide needed artificial lighting to increase the growth and quality of the roses.
The cogeneration system also features a process that recycles the engines' CO2-rich exhaust by first treating and then applying it on the roses as a special fertilizer to promote crop production. CO2 is an important factor in photosynthesis.
GE developed the process at its Jenbacher center of excellence for horticultural cogeneration applications in the Netherlands, which is an international center for the horticultural industry.
"As the Russian government continues to reform its energy delivery infrastructure, GE's cogeneration solutions are helping project developers address their challenging technical and logistical requirements and also enhancing local energy reliability," said Rod Christie, GE Energy region executive for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS.
"The project is GE's first greenhouse combined heat and power project in Russia and illustrates how GE's technology can be customized to deliver exceptional value and environmentally responsible energy solutions for a wide range of commercial and industrial customers."
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