Lighting & Energy Efficiency Calculators : Greenhouse Led Lighting Calculator
Unlock smarter greenhouse planning with our powerful greenhouse LED lighting calculator and Energy Efficiency Calculators. Whether you’re optimizing light levels for crops in a photovoltaic greenhouse or comparing HPS and LED systems for supplemental lighting, our greenhouse LED lighting calculator helps you find the perfect balance between crop yield, energy consumption, and operational costs. Designed specifically for growers and designers, the greenhouse LED lighting calculator provides precise simulations to support sustainable greenhouse design and maximize production efficiency. Use our tools to make informed decisions about your lighting setup and energy use, ensuring your greenhouse is both productive and energy-efficient.
1. Greenhouse LED Lighting Calculator
Supplemental lighting systems in greenhouses are becoming increasingly popular for crops like cannabis and tomatoes. However, the initial investment is substantial, and operating costs can be significant. Choosing between HPS (High Pressure Sodium) and LED lighting is not always straightforward. While HPS lights require lower upfront costs, they consume more electricity and generate excess heat, which can impact climate control. This is where a greenhouse LED lighting calculator becomes essential, it helps determine the optimal amount of light plants need for efficient growth while balancing energy use and costs. Using a greenhouse LED lighting calculator enables growers to make informed decisions on lighting investments, ensuring the best balance between crop yield and operational efficiency.
How does a light calculator for PV greenhouse work?
Hortinergy PV considers:
- Sun position: hourly position
- Greenhouse dimension, type, orientation…
- Structure (PV panel, frame) shade / transparency, absorption and inner/outer reflexion based on material properties
- Solar /PAR transmission of transparent cover material properties
- Shade from one chapel to another chapel according to sun position, cover…
- Crop and soil reflexion (including multi-reflexion to/from frame and transparent cover from/to canopy)
- Solar radiation /PAR going outside the greenhouse (roof, sides)
2. Input parameters in the greenhouse led lighting calculator
Input parameters are:
- LED and HPS specification: lighting intensity, efficiency…
- Regulation setpoints:
- Day Light Integral (DLI) and minimum ‘’night’’ hour per day,
- or fixed monthly calendar,
- beyond which solar radiation, the lighting system is desactivated,
- Specification of the transparent cover of the greenhouse,
- Specification of the blackout and shading screens and their adjustment points,
- GPS position to generate a weather file.
An example is shown below:
You can also define the blackout screen and its regulation setpoints as shown below:
3. Results of the Greenhouse LED Lighting Calculator
Hortinergy simulates your project for one year as a virtual greenhouse.
The results are:
- Solar radiation transmitted through the transparent cover and reaching the canopy,
- Supplemental lighting greenhouse required according to regulation setpoints (mol/m²/day):
- Day Light Integral (DLI),
- or fixed monthly schedule,
- Electricity consumption,
- Impact on the inner climate and energy consumption: heating, cooling, dehumidification.
The reports are:
- a pdf document with typical days and monthly summary tables
- an Excel file with hourly data for deeper analysis.
Solar radiation reaching canopy and supplemental lighting required
Hortinergy simulates on an hourly basis the solar radiation reaching canopy and the additional assimilation lighting required to reach the DLI.
The example below shows a monthly summary:
Impact on the inner climate and energy consumption
Hortinergy models the impact of supplementary lighting on the inner climate and energy consumption (heating, cooling, dehumidification, lighting and ventilation).
The example below shows the crop transpiration and a higher inner temperature when HPS assimilation lighting is switched on from to 9 to 11 AM and 4 to 9 PM to reach DLI.
Electricity consumption and expenditures
Hortinergy also shows the electricity consumption and expenditures.
Hortinergy has been developed by Agrithermic in partnership with the CTIFL (French Interprofessional Technical Centre for Fruits and Vegetables) and Astredhor (Horticultural technology institute), Agrocampus Ouest and the agricultural high school of La Cote saint André (CFPPA).
2. PV Greenhouse Calculator
A light calculator for PV greenhouse (photovoltaic) simulates light, solar radiation, PAR and DLI reaching canopy in a solar greenhouse.
Nowadays, energy mix and renewable energy are crucial issues. Photovoltaic greenhouses are a part of the solution. However, most of projects are designed to maximise electricity generation without considering crop production.
Therefore, they often fail agronomically due to a lack of light / PAR radiation inside the greenhouse.
Hortinergy PV helps to size the photovoltaic greenhouse to find the best combination between crop production and electricity generation.
How does a light calculator for PV greenhouse work?
Hortinergy PV considers:
- Sun position: hourly position
- Greenhouse dimension, type, orientation…
- Structure (PV panel, frame) shade / transparency, absorption and inner/outer reflexion based on material properties
- Solar /PAR transmission of transparent cover material properties
- Shade from one chapel to another chapel according to sun position, cover…
- Crop and soil reflexion (including multi-reflexion to/from frame and transparent cover from/to canopy)
- Solar radiation /PAR going outside the greenhouse (roof, sides)
Inputs of the PV greenhouse calculator are:
- Greenhouse dimension, type, orientation, shape, symmetrical/ asymmetrical
- PV panel specification: single or double face, transparency
- Transparent cover specification
Outputs of the PV greenhouse simulator are:
- average hourly radiation / DLI reaching canopy in an Excel file
- monthly summary in a PDF report
Need more accurate light simulation for your PV greenhouse?
We can provide, with Hortinergy PV Desktop, advanced calculation.
Input: any patchwork combining any types of solar panel and / or transparent cover.
Outputs: User designs a grid in the greenhouse. Software calculates solar radiation reaching canopy at any locating of the defined grid for a specific height. Output is an Excel file with hourly of solar radiation / PAR in each point of the grid.
Hortinergy is an online software. You can choose your offer, create an account and start your project!
