GREENERGY – “Energy Optimisation in European Greenhouses”

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Greenergy is a Collective Research project which is funded by the European Commission within the 6th framework programme. It started in September 2005 and will last 3 years. The consortium is composed of 27 partners from 11 European countries which have different expertise in the field of greenhouse growing and technology. Associations, SME experts for greenhouse energy efficiency and SME greenhouse growers are involved as well as highly experienced researchers in the horticultural and environmental sector. The work of the Greenergy project is divided into three main activities: Specific research, training and dissemination. Within the research work the consortium will define the legislative background and the current situation of the greenhouse growers. Based on this information energy saving methods and measures for technical improvement will be established. Reference greenhouses and an Energy Auditing Software Tool for greenhouses will be developed and evaluated. The researchers will develop training courses and provide training to the associations and SME's, based on the acquired expertise and the developed tools. The knowledge gained will form the basis for certain IAG training activities about energy optimisation of greenhouses to their members and thus will be contribute to spreading the knowledge about greenhouse energy assessment and optimisation throughout Europe. Further information on the project objectives and the workplan are provided here.

In Collective Research projects RTD performers like research centres and universities carry out research activities on behalf of Industrial Associations or Groupings (IAGs) in order to expand their knowledge base and improve the overall competitiveness of large communities of their members which are almost Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). In the project 8 RTD performers will provide the required know-how in cooperation with the participating 9 IAGs and the SME core group, which consists of 7 greenhouse growers and 3 greenhouse experts from different European countries. More details on the partners of the Greenergy consortium can be found here.