The Novarbo heat recovery system represents the latest greenhouse technology and makes greenhouse cultivation more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. The system reduces the total energy costs of greenhouses, improves yields by regulating the indoor climate, and reduces the need to vent extra humidity. 

The Novarbo heat recovery system is based on the effective capture of waste energy in greenhouses. As the sun warms up the greenhouse during the day, the heat energy is recovered and stored in large hot-water tanks. During the night, the stored energy is released to heat the greenhouse. 

The system can control the ambient temperature and minimise the need to ventilate. When ventilation vents can stay closed, the carbon dioxide concentration can be kept high in greenhouse, which directly increases yields. 

The benefits of the Novarbo heat recovery system are considerable. The annual energy savings can reach dozens of per cent and energy waste is significantly lowered compared to conventional ventilation methods. The Novarbo heat recovery system is scalable and suitable for many sizes of greenhouse, benefitting both large and small operators. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture 1: The conventional greenhouse (on the left) wastes heat and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere due to the need to open airing panels. The Novarbo heat recovery system (on the right) captures extra heat and improves regulation of the indoor climate. 

Novarbo heat recovery system helps Juntti greenhouses save energy

Tero Juntti, one of Finland’s leading growers of greenhouse-cultivated cucumber, has installed the Novarbo heat recovery system in his company’s greenhouses. The heat recovery system reduces the use of external energy, which saves costs and is environmentally friendly.

The system saves costs all year round: The Juntti greenhouses are self-sufficient for heat down to a few degrees below zero, and in the summer, their airing panels need to be opened much less than in conventional greenhouses. 
When heat recovery is combined with humidity control, the system becomes very effective and highly functional.

Read testimonials about the Novarbo heat recovery system

Heat recovery paves the way for a self-sufficient greenhouse

Greenhouses operating in the cold climate of Finland require much energy. Especially in the winter, greenhouses are largely heated with external energy. Combined with conventional greenhouse technology that vents heat into the atmosphere, this means high electricity consumption and high costs.

The Novarbo heat recovery system solves this problem. Heat recovery makes greenhouse cultivation more efficient and eco-friendly. With a heat recovery system, future greenhouses may become fully self-sufficient: energy can be stored for cool nights and chill winters in a financially viable way.

In addition, heat recovery could allow greenhouses to become energy producers in the future. Extra heat energy stored in the summer can be fed into the district heating network to heat up the domestic water of local properties, for example.

The many benefits of a heat recovery system

There are numerous benefits to using a heat recovery system, from cutting energy costs to growing yields and improving operational self-sufficiency. 
 
Novarbo heat recovery system benefits:

• Recovers heat, removes humidity and provides cooling 
• Low maintenance
• Closed circuit, does not drench plants
• Installation does not disturb cultivation during growing
• Does not take up space from plants
• Improves climate control and humidity removal in greenhouses
• Can be connected to existing greenhouse automation
• Improves airflow by cooling the top of the greenhouse
• Extra humidity is recovered as clean water and can be used for irrigation, for example
• Can be installed in irrigation tanks to recover heat by cooling the irrigation water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture 2: On the left in the picture there is an energy storage tank, in the middle is a heat pump and buffer storage.
Heat recovery units installed in the ceiling of the greenhouse cool the air, remove humidity and recover heat. Warm water in the heating circuit can be directed to heating pipes, the district heating network or other applications.