Boilers
The boiler is the big energy user of any heated glasshouse, so any energy efficiency improvements that can be made to its basic operation can have a big impact on costs.
Essentially, a boiler's aim is to convert energy in its fuel into useful heat. The design of a boiler's components (such as its burner, combustion control, damper and heat exchangers) can have a huge influence on how efficiently it does this.
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Horticultural businesses benefit from a rebate on the duty paid on fuel oils, whether to heat a building or growing medium, as long as it is used to grow produce. -
Boilers may have to be operated at times when no heat is required, so that CO2 can be produced. The rate of production is dependant on the firing level of the boiler. Two of the simpler set points available for managing CO2 enrichment are maximum boiler capacity for CO2 and minimum boiler capacity for CO2. -
Similar to the Feed-in Tariffs for renewable electricity, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is aimed at significantly increasing the proportion of heat generated from renewable sources. It is a commitment by the government to long-term financial support, paying a fixed amount per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of heat produced over a 20-year term, adjusted each year for inflation.
