
05/2022 Belgian Grower Tomerel Increases Light Levels, Decreases Energy Costs Through Fluence LED Retrofit
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (May 12, 2022)โFluence, a leading global provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial cannabis and food production, announced today its partnership with Tomerel, a tomato grower located in Antwerp, Belgium. Together, the companies retrofitted half of Tomerelโs glasshouse from high-pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures to LEDs, resulting in a 40% increase in light levels while decreasing energy input by 5%.
Tomerel is a multi-generational family farm led by CEO and co-owner Jelle de Ryckโson of founders Els and Eric. Tomerel specializes in glasshouse-grown tomatoes, with a particular focus on cherry tomatoes on the vine. Like many growers in the region, Jelle de Ryck scaled his familyโs facility using supplemental HPS fixtures. However, when Jelle sought to maximize the glasshouseโs light output and energy consumption, he turned to Fluenceโs advanced LED technology.
โWhen we set out to identify a partner to assist with our lighting retrofit, we werenโt just looking for lightsโwe wanted a team that could strategize with us from installation through harvesting. Fluence provided that service and more,โ – Jelle de Ryck
After installing Fluenceโs VYPR 3p top light solution, what were once critical limitations to the farmโs lighting strategy became opportunities to boost yields and reduce energy costs. Traditional HPS fixtures produce excess heat and feature inflexible spectral options. Fluence LEDs, however, run cooler and use a more efficient spectrum. With exploding energy prices in the region, the lightened load on the glasshouseโs HVAC system, in combination with the LEDsโ overall more efficient energy usage, enabled Tomerel to cut its electricity usage while increasing light levels.
โFluenceโs technology drove success for us in multiple ways. The electricity efficiencies enabled us to sell 25% more energy back to the grid and also reduced our gas consumption by 5%. The plants are also thriving under LEDs. Weโre seeing improved quality and production throughout the winter months, increases in stem density and improved translocation of sugars throughout the night,โ Jelle added.
In close coordination with Fluenceโs technical team, Tomerel implemented a PhysioSpecโข DUAL R9B spectral strategy to accommodate plant efficacy. This strategy enabled Tomerel to decrease energy input by 5% even while increasing the amount of light by 40%, ensuring stronger cultivation conditions for Tomerelโs tomato crop. As a result, Tomerel also increased its yield by more than 5% despite the facility receiving 5% less natural light over the winter season. Tomerel also saw an increase in overall fruit weight following the retrofit.
โIt is fascinating to see growers like Tomerel make innovative, smart cultivation decisions regarding energy usage,โ said Timo Bongartz, general manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Fluence. โThe Tomerel team is saving energy wherever possible and also optimizing their facility in such a way to enable them to sell energy back to the grid. And all that without sacrificing plant quality. Fluence is delighted to support Tomerel in running a future-proof glasshouse.โ
With Fluenceโs technology, the Tomerel team sold 25% more of the glasshouseโs electricity produced by co-generation back to the grid during peak energy prices and saved 5% of its total gas consumption.
For more information on Fluence, visit fluence-led.com.
About Fluence
Fluence Bioengineering, Inc. (Fluence) 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 in Austin, Texas, with its EMEA headquarters in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Fluence operates as a business unit within Signifyโs Digital Solutions division. For more information about Fluence, visit fluence-led.com.