Confluent Jet Technology is a special area in advanced fluid engineering where research at the University of Gävle (HIG) is the world leader. Applied in greenhouses, the technology can through advanced control of the air flow in the plant lead to greatly reduced energy use, the ability to utilise low temperature and thus cost-effective industrial residual heat, the possibility of improved climate control and thus optimised cultivation conditions. This opens up opportunities for greenhouse farming, including fish farming, which is both more productive, more sustainable, provides higher quality of crops, and has lower costs than today’s systems. Overall goal Gävleborg takes the lead when Northern Central Sweden builds a structure for the establishment of a new sustainable food industry. Project objectives Construction of structural regional platform for cluster development in high-tech circular food production in buildings, based on new advanced technology for heating and climate control. Milestone 1-6 – Development of knowledge and research platform at HIG for advanced climate control in greenhouses. Introduction of new development opportunities for the region’s SME – Initiation of platform for regional innovation development in the field – Increased regional attractiveness for technology companies and primary producers – Increased regional industrial equality and increased employment Target group: Companies that can build greenhouses, or manufacture components and systems that are part of greenhouses. Companies that work with or have the ability to develop cutting edge technology in areas such as lighting, greenhouse construction, wall materials, building design, etc. These are often SME companies and there are many companies in the region that should suit. Some of these have already been identified, but the survey will continue during the project period. Expected project results In the short term, the objective is that different actors who, may be relevant for a powerful expansion of greenhouse production in the region, and the construction of the new business area, are inventoryd and mapped. These actors must be informed about the possibilities of the new technology and the project’s ambitions and goals. Discussions, planning work, evaluations, etc. that are a prerequisite for investment decisions must have been initiated. Similarly, the process of creating collaboration constellations, consortiums and new companies should have started. Inspiration seminars aimed at informing about the technology and its possibilities must have been carried out with 15-20 participating companies from different categories. At least half of these are SMEs. 5-10 international farming companies have been informed about the technology and discussions have begun on possible establishment in the region. Expected long-term effects The expected long-term result is that the project will lead to Gävleborg, as well as Dalarna and Värmland, taking a leading position in the construction of Swedish large-scale industrial food production in buildings based on new advanced technology for heating and climate control, and that a new business area has been created in the region for companies and consortiums of companies working with the design and construction of greenhouses, or supplying components, equipment or services to greenhouses for both local and international markets. It will have been created cooperation in the region that enables residual heat from energy-intensive industry and server halls to be utilised for heating greenhouses. Technology has been developed to enable CO2 from industrial processes to be utilised in greenhouse production, which thus acts as a natural CCS (Carbon Capture Storage) technology.
