Renewable Energy in CEA: A Growing Imperative

The 2024 Global Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Census highlights a significant shift: energy efficiency and renewable energy are now central priorities for CEA operators worldwide. Rising energy costs, sustainability goals, and regulatory pressures are accelerating this transition, making renewable energy integration a critical focus for the industry.

While many CEA operations still rely on conventional power sources, an increasing number are exploring solar, geothermal, and other renewable solutions to reduce costs and improve environmental impact. The data from this year’s census of 450 operators suggests that this trend will continue to gain momentum.

Key Takeaways on Renewable Energy Adoption

• Solar energy is the most widely adopted renewable source in CEA, with 45% of farms in Asia and 25% in North America already integrating solar into their operations.
• Over 30% of operators are actively considering renewables in the next two years, signaling strong future growth.
• Energy efficiency ranked as the #1 priority for technology investment across all regions.
• While renewable energy adoption is increasing, upfront costs and infrastructure limitations remain key challenges.

Challenges and Opportunities in Renewable Energy Adoption

Despite the clear benefits, many CEA operators face hurdles in transitioning to renewable energy.

Key Challenges:

1. High Upfront Costs: Many farms struggle with the capital investment required for renewable energy infrastructure. Leasing models and government incentives are helping bridge this gap.
2. Energy Storage Limitations: Battery technology is improving, but storage costs remain a barrier to full renewable reliance. Hybrid solutions are emerging as a practical alternative.
3. Infrastructure Constraints: In certain regions, access to stable renewable energy sources—such as grid connectivity for solar or geothermal—remains a challenge.

At the same time, emerging solutions are helping to accelerate adoption. Agrivoltaics, energy-as-a-service models, and improvements in energy-efficient CEA design are all contributing to a more sustainable future.

Three CEA Projects Leading in Renewable Energy

On my travels, I have met with some of and become aware of many of the innovators focused on integrating renewable energy with CEA.

Mirai Solar – Agrivoltaics in the Desert (UAE & MENA)

Innovation: Transparent solar panels that provide energy and shade for greenhouse crops.

Impact: Reduces cooling costs while optimizing light diffusion for shade-loving crops.

Scalability Potential: Particularly relevant for regions with high solar radiation, such as the Middle East and Southern Europe.

?? Read more

Nimble Farms – Sustainability-Driven Expansion (Buffalo, NY, USA)

Technology: Energy-efficient CEA systems with plans to integrate renewable energy solutions across all of its farms.

Impact: A rebranded approach (formerly Ellicottville Greens) focused on sustainability and long-term scalability.

Future Outlook: Exploring solar power and closed-loop systems to minimize energy consumption.

?? Read more

GigaFarm Dubai – Scaling Vertical Farming with Solar

Technology: This will be one of the world’s largest vertical farms, powered by renewable energy and automation.

Impact: Aims to replace 1% of UAE’s fresh produce imports, reducing reliance on external food sources.

Scalability Potential: A model for other urban centers looking to localize food production.

?? Read more

Nordic Harvest – Wind-Powered Vertical Farming (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Technology: A large-scale vertical farm powered entirely by wind energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Impact: Produces greens and herbs with 99% less water than traditional farming, while using 100% renewable energy from Denmark’s wind farms.

Scalability Potential: A model for integrating offshore wind energy with urban farming, particularly in Northern Europe and coastal cities.

?? Read more

Sundrop Farms – Solar-Powered Greenhouse Agriculture (Port Augusta, South Australia)

Technology: Sundrop Farms utilizes concentrated solar power (CSP) to operate its greenhouse facilities. The system includes a 127-meter solar tower and over 23,000 mirrors to harness solar energy, which is used for electricity generation, heating, and desalination processes.

Impact: By leveraging solar energy, Sundrop Farms produces over 15,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually, supplying major Australian supermarkets. This approach minimizes reliance on fossil fuels and freshwater sources, utilizing seawater desalinated through solar power for irrigation.

Scalability Potential: Sundrop Farms' model demonstrates the feasibility of integrating renewable energy into large-scale agricultural operations, particularly in arid regions with abundant sunlight and limited freshwater resources.

?? Read more

Looking Ahead: The Role of Renewable Energy in CEA

?? How important is renewable energy to CEA operators?

• Highly Important: A large segment of the 450 operators from this year's census view renewable energy as essential to long-term business sustainability.
• Moderately Important: Nearly half of respondents recognize its value but are still navigating cost and infrastructure barriers.
• Neutral or Low Priority: A small percentage remain reliant on conventional energy, though this number is shrinking.

With solar and geothermal adoption increasing and energy efficiency becoming a top priority for investment, it is clear that CEA is moving toward a more sustainable energy future.

What’s Next?

As the industry evolves, we can expect:

• More integration of agrivoltaics and on-site solar solutions.
• Increased investment in energy storage and microgrid solutions to stabilize renewable energy supply.
• Stronger policy incentives to encourage the adoption of renewables in agricultural production.

The transition to renewable energy in CEA is no longer a question of if, but how quickly and effectively operators can integrate sustainable solutions.

Let's Dive Deeper!

How is your operation thinking about energy efficiency and renewables? Share your insights in the comments.

?? For a deeper dive into this year’s trends, download the full 2024 CEA Census report here: https://www.ceagworld.com/agritecture-census/

Thank you to CEAg World & Agritecture for leading the census

Thank you to our 450 respondents this year!

Thank you to our sponsors Priva , Sollum Technologies , TTA-ISO Bleskensgraaf