LinkedIn post 22-04-2026

𝐂𝐎₂ 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐥-𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦

As greenhouse horticulture reduces its reliance on natural gas, a key technical question is becoming more visible: how will CO₂ for crop enrichment be supplied in the future?

For many decades, CO₂ has been a by-product of combined heat and power (CHP) systems. As heating strategies shift towards electrification and low-emission energy sources, this traditional supply is becoming less available. This creates a structural challenge for greenhouse operations.

One of the technologies now being explored is direct air capture (DAC), where CO₂ is extracted from ambient air and supplied directly to the greenhouse.

Research and early-stage trials are underway, including work linked to institutions such as Wageningen University, to assess how these systems could be applied in horticultural environments.

In principle, DAC offers a pathway to decouple CO₂ supply from fossil-based energy systems.

In practice, there are still significant constraints. Current systems require substantial energy input and involve high capital costs, which limits their applicability at commercial scale.

This raises a broader design question for the sector. As greenhouse systems transition to low-emission energy, how will CO₂ supply be secured in a way that is both technically reliable and economically viable?