Installation of a chilled-water buffer for a more stable greenhouse climate

For a horticultural project in the province of Zeeland, Harvest House and CombiCoop were looking for a way to reduce gas consumption and CO₂ use while increasing production. The solution also had to be suitable for an existing greenhouse. Keeping the greenhouse closed as much as possible retains more heat and CO₂. However, this requires active dehumidification, for which cooling is needed at varying times.

Genap installed an insulated silo in which chilled water is temporarily buffered. The water is stored in temperature layers: chilled water remains at the bottom, while warmer water stays above it. This allows the heat pump and chilled-water buffer to match cooling supply and demand more effectively. The heat pump does not have to respond continuously to peaks and can operate more consistently, while the buffer absorbs fluctuations in cooling demand. During the first winter and spring, the targets for reducing gas consumption and CO₂ use were achieved. The same principle can also be applied to the temporary storage of warm water, allowing both cooling and heat to be used when needed.