• The Sundrop Farms CSP system uses solar energy for seawater desalination.
Renewable energy has proven to be very useful and versatile in enabling new ideas in various fields. Today, thanks to renewable energy, great technological innovations are being realized in the market. From small businesses that are self-sufficient in electricity to new ways of agribusiness, these energy sources are likely to emerge, opening up previously unimaginable opportunities.
Who would have said they could grow tomatoes in the middle of the desert, without pollution, without emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Well, it's already a reality, thanks to a pioneering farm in Australia. This innovative technology not only allows food to be grown in extreme conditions, but also in a completely sustainable way.
The technology behind the breakthrough.
The technology used on the farm is the result of the work of the Danish company Aalborg, a pioneer in the use of concentrated solar energy (CSP) for agricultural applications. This innovative system is not only responsible for generating enough energy to regulate the greenhouse air, but also allows desalinated water, a scarce resource in these arid regions.
The greenhouse is located at Sunflower Farm, a state-of-the-art facility in South Australia, particularly in Port Augusta. Covering more than 20.000 square meters, the complex is one of the best examples of sustainable agriculture in the arid region. The energy that powers the system comes from 23,000 heliostats strategically placed on the desert floor. These mirrors collect the sun's rays and redirect them to a 127-meter-tall solar tower at the center of the facility.
Concentrate solar energy on growing food.
The Sundrop Farms solar thermal power generation system not only provides enough electricity for farm operations, but also contributes to the farm's desalination. This water is used to irrigate tomato crops, eliminating the dependence on the limited freshwater resources in these areas. The farm can produce up to 150,000 kg of organic tomatoes a year, equivalent to 15 per cent of Australia's total tomato consumption.
This innovative system uses solar energy for most of the year, as the area has more than 300 days of sunshine per year. As a result, fossil fuels are no longer needed to operate greenhouses.
Saltwater from nearby Spencer Bay is desalinated using solar energy, producing up to 1 million liters of fresh water per day. The technology not only guarantees water supply for crops, but also significantly reduces the carbon footprint as it has the ability to avoid emissions of up to 16.000 tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to taking more than 3.000 cars off the road.
Seasonal adaptation and sustainability.
The Sundrop Farms system is designed to accommodate different seasons of the year. In winter, concentrated solar energy is used to heat the greenhouse, ensuring that the tomatoes grow under optimal conditions. During the colder months, extremely low temperatures can occur in the desert even at night, so the system is essential to maintaining a proper climate within the facility.
In addition, the system allows for balanced energy production throughout the year, adjusting energy demand according to the time of year. This combination of technologies not only enables sustainable food production, but also minimizes operating costs and guarantees the long-term economic viability of the project.
The project has proved to be a great success, both technically and economically. Not only does it guarantee continuous tomato production, but it also creates a large number of local jobs in the Port Augusta area, where the farm employs about 175 workers.
Global Opportunities: Other examples.
The success of Sundrop Farms is an inspiration for other arid regions of the world, where water scarcity and high temperatures pose major challenges for agriculture. One of the most remarkable examples is the desert Atacama in Chile, where tomatoes are grown using a similar system and get photovoltaic solar energy. Tomatoes grown in the Atacama are not only used for local consumption, but also transported by electric vehicles, completely eliminating the carbon footprint.
In the United Arab Emirates Pure Harvest has developed climate-controlled greenhouses to grow food in extremely dry conditions. These greenhouses feature LED lighting and efficient irrigation systems, such as drips and sprinklers, which reduce the environmental impact of water levels.
Across the globe, vertical farming has proven to be a viable solution for food production in water-scarce areas using hydroponic systems. These technologies allow vegetables to be grown in layers, using irrigation techniques that reduce water use by 95 percent compared to conventional farming. The use of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, is key to the success of these projects and is a long-term solution to climate change and the growing global demand for food.
These pioneering projects show that using advanced technologies and using clean energy as a fundamental part of the agricultural process can transform dry areas into productive areas.
The future of agriculture in particular, especially in areas with extreme conditions, will depend on adapting these technologies and making them available on a global scale, in those regions most affected by climate change and natural resource scarcity.
