The doi above is for this specific version of this dataset, which is currently the latest. Newer versions may be published in the future. For a link that will always point to the latest version, please use
doi: 10.4121/8b67deea-aa93-4284-adda-464cc285f45b

Tess Blom; Van den Dobbelsteen, A.A.J.F. (Andy); Andrew Jenkins (2024): Data underlying the publication: Synergetic urbanism: a theoretical exploration of a vertical farm as local heat source and flexible electricity user. Version 1. 4TU.ResearchData. dataset. https://doi.org/10.4121/8b67deea-aa93-4284-adda-464cc285f45b.v1

Dataset

• Horticultural Production
• Engineering Design
• Urban and Regional Planning
• Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
• Built Environment and Design
• Energy

demand response operation, district heat network, electricity price fluctuations, energy transition, flexible energy use, grid congestion, heat exchange, intermittent lighting, residual heat, synergies, urban agriculture, vertical farming

2025

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

RefWorks, BibTeX, Reference Manager, Endnote, DataCite, NLM, DC, CFF

by Tess Blom , A.A.J.F. (Andy) Van den Dobbelsteen , Andrew Jenkins

The urban energy transition requires innovative heating and cooling systems, as well as enhanced flexibility in electricity usage. This paper explores the theoretical potential for vertical farms to contribute to the energy transition by supplying residual heat to local district heat networks and flexible electricity usage. A stepped approach was used to design energy systems that achieve thermal energy balance through heat and cold exchange between a vertical farm and buildings within a specific Dutch neighbourhood. Furthermore, alternative lighting strategies for vertical farms were explored to reduce grid congestion and to respond to electricity price fluctuations, limiting the mismatch between electricity generation and demand. Compared to the baseline scenario, the energy system with an integrated vertical farm reduces overall energy use by 15%, even when accounting for the farm’s electricity use. By adopting intermittent lighting that is better aligned with electricity price fluctuations, the vertical farm obtained annual cost savings of 14%. The integration of vertical farms into energy systems can, therefore, contribute to the urban energy transition by producing residual heat to balance thermal energy system and save money for growers by optimising LED operations to align with electricity price fluctuations, whilst producing fresh vegetables for the city.

• 2024-02-12 first online, published, posted

4TU.ResearchData

.xlsx

Synergetic urbanism: a theoretical exploration of a vertical farm as local heat source and flexible electricity user

• TTW Perspectief programme “Sky High” [P18-07]

TU Delft, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Department Architectural Engineering and Technology