
09 Feb Great Northern Hydroponics Projects CA$150,000 in Annual Savings After Fluence LED Implementation
Leading tomato grower in Canada sees significant cost savings with LED technology and heavier fruit weights that drive increased yields
AUSTIN, Texas (Feb. 9, 2021)โFluence by OSRAM (Fluence), a leading global provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial food and cannabis production, and Great Northern Hydroponics, an Ontario, Canada-based greenhouse growing more than 10 varieties of tomatoes, announced today that the companiesโ collaborative LED implementation is projected to save an estimated 150,000 Canadian dollars in annual operating costs for the greenhouse. The project also qualified for an incentive through the Independent Electricity System Operatorโs (IESO) Save on Energy Retrofit program that will significantly reduce the upfront costs of upgrading its lighting technology.
Great Northern Hydroponicsโ 70-acre facility produces 20 million pounds of premium tomatoes annually. Its hydroponic greenhouses create optimum growing conditions through a sophisticated climate control system as well as a biologically controlled environment to prevent pest manifestations. Fluenceโs LED technology was retrofitted across 10 acres of the facilityโs tomato glasshouse. At the helm of Great Northern Hydroponicsโ growing operation are Guido van het Hof, the companyโs president and general manager, and Dean Bernardes, vice president of operations. Both hold decades of experience growing high-quality crops using the industryโs most advanced cultivation technology.
โWeโve been growing tomatoes for more than 20 years,โ Van het Hof said. โAs one of the first growers in our region to illuminate crops in a commercial environment, weโve been immersed in researching and optimizing spectral strategies for plant growth and quality. Since the onset of LED technology, Iโve been particularly curious about how broad-spectrum LEDs could affect plant development. Based on our years of research and trialing, weโve discovered that crops grow beautifullyโwith higher yields and fruit weightsโunder broad-spectrum light.โ
Van het Hofโs multiyear commitment to researching the latest advancements and strategies for LED horticulture lighting rivals leading research universities and some of the worldโs largest cultivators. In his pursuit to identify the optimal spectral strategy for vine crop production, Van het Hof spearheaded various trials with high-pressure sodium fixtures as well as LED technology. Throughout his decade-long exploration, Van het Hof has recorded significant advantages under broad-spectrum LED technology, reporting an increase in biomass and fruit production as well as significant energy savingsโreductions which enabled the Great Northern Hydroponics team to leverage the Save on Energy Retrofit program offering growers incentives for energy-efficient lighting upgrades.
โGreat Northern Hydroponics has always been a pioneer in leveraging horticulture technology and innovative cultivation methods,โ said Steve Graves, vice president of business development for Fluence and long-time collaborator with Van het Hof. โOur work with Guido has informed some of our most important product advancements for vine crop growers throughout the world. Guido and his team at Great Northern Hydroponics have reinforced the validity and efficacy of LED lighting in greenhouse environments.โ
Through Fluenceโs utility rebate coordination program, the company assists growers with identifying, applying for and, in some cases, creating rebate programs in a facilityโs respective region. With Great Northern Hydroponicsโ lighting upgrade supported by the Save on Energy Retrofit program incentive, Van het Hof estimates the business will save approximately CA$150,000 in annual operational costs by replacing its high-pressure sodium lighting with Fluenceโs LED technology.
โLED technology is proving to be superior across all categories,โ Van het Hof added. โOur plants are flourishing under broad-spectrum lighting, our operational costs are decreasing and our staff is enjoying working with white light versus harsher, redder lights. Itโs a win-win for everyone.โ
For more information on Fluence and its rebate services, visit www.fluence.science.
About Fluence by OSRAM
Fluence Bioengineering, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of OSRAM, creates powerful and energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial crop production and research applications. Fluence is a leading LED lighting supplier in the global cannabis market and is committed to enabling more efficient crop production with the worldโs top vertical farms and greenhouse produce growers. Fluence global headquarters are based in Austin, Texas, with its EMEA headquarters in Rotterdam, Netherlands. For more information about Fluence, visit https://fluence.science.