Print Email Facebook Twitter Synergetic urbanism Title Synergetic urbanism: A theoretical exploration of a vertical farm as local heat source and flexible electricity user Author Blom, T. (TU Delft Environmental & Climate Design) Jenkins, Andrew (University of Salford) van den Dobbelsteen, A.A.J.F. (TU Delft Environmental & Climate Design) Date 2024 Abstract The urban energy transition requires innovative heating and cooling systems, as well as enhanced flexibility in electricity usage. This paper explores the theoretical potential for vertical farms to contribute to the energy transition by supplying residual heat to local district heat networks and flexible electricity usage. A stepped approach was used to design energy systems that achieve thermal energy balance through heat and cold exchange between a vertical farm and buildings within a specific Dutch neighbourhood. Furthermore, alternative lighting strategies for vertical farms were explored to reduce grid congestion and to respond to electricity price fluctuations, limiting the mismatch between electricity generation and demand. Compared to the baseline scenario, the energy system with an integrated vertical farm reduces overall energy use by 15 %, even when accounting for the farm's electricity use. By adopting intermittent lighting that is better aligned with electricity price fluctuations, the vertical farm obtained annual cost savings of 14 %. The integration of vertical farms into energy systems can, therefore, contribute to the urban energy transition by producing residual heat to balance thermal energy system and save money for growers by optimising LED operations to align with electricity price fluctuations, whilst producing fresh vegetables for the city. Subject Controlled environment agricultureEnergy transitionResidual heatHeat exchangeElectricity price fluctuationsIntermittent lightGrid congestionFlexible electricity useUrban agricultureSymbiosis To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:f409c5af-0686-41e5-8cbe-fc9191e42367 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2024.105267 ISSN 2210-6707 Source Sustainable Cities and Society, 103 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2024 T. Blom, Andrew Jenkins, A.A.J.F. van den Dobbelsteen Files PDF 1-s2.0-S2210670724000969-main.pdf 4.41 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:f409c5af-0686-41e5-8cbe-fc9191e42367/datastream/OBJ/view