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

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.

城市能源转型亟需创新性的采暖与制冷系统，以及电力使用灵活性的提升。本研究探索了垂直农场(vertical farm)通过向本地区域供热管网供应余热、采用灵活用电方式助力能源转型的理论潜力。研究采用分步设计方法，构建了可通过垂直农场与荷兰某特定街区内建筑间的冷热交换实现热能平衡的能源系统。此外，本研究还探索了垂直农场的替代照明策略，以降低电网拥塞、响应电价波动，从而缓解发电与用电之间的错配问题。相较于基准情景，即便计入垂直农场自身的电力消耗，集成垂直农场的能源系统仍可将整体能源使用量降低15%。通过采用与电价波动匹配度更高的间歇式照明方案，该垂直农场可实现14%的年度成本节约。因此，将垂直农场融入能源系统，既能通过供应余热平衡热能系统助力城市能源转型，又可通过优化LED照明运行以匹配电价波动为种植者节约成本，同时还能为城市供应新鲜蔬菜。