Meet the first DAC unit being tested for Dutch Horticulture
Wageningen University Research Center
Circular CO2 Utilization in Dutch Horticulture
Skytree is the first company to partner with Wageningen University & Research as part of their first Direct Air Capture research project. The project explores the quality and feasibility of DAC systems and technology. In the innovation and demonstration center, WUR is testing the Skytree Cumulus 12kg per day system for a duration of six months. The research project is in collaboration with Glastuinbouw Nederland and Kas als Energibron.
This is a crucial step for the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector as it moves away from fossil-based CO₂ supplementation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. By adding CO₂ in a controlled environment, growers can increase their yields. Currently, many growers use CO₂ released from natural gas combustion in combined heat and power (CHP) systems, which also provide heat and electricity in addition to CO₂.
The results of the first trial, completed in June, are now available and show promising outcomes. They "indicate a yield of 71 kg/m² (177 units/m²) over approximately 166 days of cultivation, with no differences between the DAC (test) and OCAP compartment (reference)." With at least 10 kg of captured CO₂ per 24 hours, the Skytree Cumulus Unit captured over 1,660 kg of CO₂ during this first trial.
No phytotoxicity was found. And only marginal NOx which are being attributed to external conditions.
Summary First Trial:
Operational Hours: 166 days
CO2 Captured: 1660kg
"Kas als Energiebron" has provided further insights on these results in an article: Eerste resultaten CO2 uit Buitenlucht bij het Innovatie en Demonstratie Centrum Bleiswijk: Kas als energiebron
Key Information
The Skytree Cumulus System
01. Location
Bleiswijk, Netherlands
02. Deployment
January 2024
03. Application
CO2 Utilization
04. Industry
Controlled Environment Agriculture
Project Goals
Quality
How DAC generated CO2 can impact plant growth
Energy
Measure the amount of energy to produce 1kg of CO2
Integration
How to optimize the integration of DAC into existing greenhouses
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“Skytree is giving vertical farms a path to being more sustainable, while cutting costs related to buying the CO2 necessary to grow crops indoors.”
