3 ms·
It's also possible to control a plant's life cycle, and harvest multiple times per year. On the other hand, it's rare that the economics favor artificial light
by alexose 9y ago
It's also possible to control a plant's life cycle, and harvest multiple times per year.
On the other hand, it's rare that the economics favor artificial light. Until energy becomes truly cheap, farms are mostly better off with the big fusion reactor in the sky.
- sand500 9y agoOne advantage I heard is the lights in these vertical farms only emit the wavelengths plants absorb while solar panels absorb across all wavelengths
- ajb 9y agoThey try to make solar panels absorb across as broad a spectrum as possible, but they don't absorb everything by default. It's an ongoing research goal to add spectrum without increasing cost.
- joshvm 9y agoAgriculture LEDs are designed to only emit 'growing' wavelengths. But the efficiency losses in converting sunlight to electricity via solar (20% typical) and from electricity to LED light (better, but not great) don't make it any better than growing in a glasshouse.
- aninhumer 9y agoWould it be practical to make a vertical farm that takes advantage of the sunlight available, and just supplements it in the obscured areas? A vertical greenhouse kind of thing?
- mikekchar 9y agoThe answer is "yes", to a degree. Do a google image search for "aeroponics epcot center" and you will see some in action.