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型供暖与制冷系统，同时也要求电力使用具备更高的灵活性。本研究探讨了垂直农场（vertical farm）通过向当地区域供热网络供应余热、实现灵活用电，从而助力能源转型的理论潜力。研究采用阶梯式设计方法，构建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方案，旨在缓解电网拥堵、响应电价波动，从而降低发电与用电之间的错配程度。与基准场景相比，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消耗量降低15%。通过采用与电价波动匹配度更高的间歇性照明方案，垂直农场每年可实现14%的成本节约。综上，将垂直农场融入能源系统，可通过产出余热平衡热能系统、通过优化LED照明运营以匹配电价波动为种植者节约成本，同时为城市供应新鲜蔬菜，从而助力城市能源转型。