Simulated Rooftop Solar-Heat Pump Greenhouse

In Canada, greenhouse operations heavily rely on fossil fuels. This research proposes designing an optimized pilot simulated rooftop greenhouse, showcasing the feasibility of a combined solar photovoltaic (PV)–heat pump (HP) energy system for Canadian weather conditions. Key innovations include open-source models for Canadian greenhouse heating/cooling loads, the integrated PV-HP system, and the use of open-source software/DAQ for system analysis. Deliverables encompass a validated simulation model, a comprehensive technical report with schematics and code, and a prototype-ready design framework with technical guidelines. These will form a readily available toolkit for Edie Farming to commercialize rooftop greenhouses at scale in Canada.

Faculty Supervisor:

Joshua Pearce

Student:

Partner:

Edie Farming

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: