More than 15 years ago, Casey Houweling ventured from his native Canada to start raising his tomatoes in the Southern California sunshine. From Romas to grape tomatoes and tomatoes on the vine, Houweling’s Tomatoes grows a wide range of GMO-free varieties at its outpost in Camarillo, Calif. in addition to its original facility in British Columbia, Canada.
It’s a massive operation. Each year, rows and rows of plants inside the company’s glass-enclosed greenhouses produce over 108 million pounds. Growing the tomatoes hydroponically -- without the use of soil -- enables Houweling to use less water, yield more on less land and save money. He has also outfitted his greenhouses with solar panels, reuses water and recycles or composts the majority of the company's waste.
Over the last three years, Houweling has aimed to boost productivity even more -- and reduce his environmental impact further -- by making a major investment.
He recently unveiled the fruits of that investment: a new 125-acre greenhouse powered by two high-efficient, two-stage turbocharged gas-powered GE Jenbacher J624 engines. The combined heat and power (CHP) system can produce 8.7 megawatts of electrical power -- enough to run about 8,800 homes -- and goes beyond capturing and reusing heat, as traditional cogeneration systems do.
It also captures CO2 which can then be pumped in to the greenhouse as a fertilizer, as well as water that can be used in facility operations.
As the first commercial CHP greenhouse in the U.S., it’s arguably poised to become the most efficient in the country, and is expected to increase tomato production by 20 percent.
The system makes use of excess low grade heat and water released during production which would normally be wasted, according to GE spokesperson Scott Nolen. And since all of its power output won't be needed 24 hours a day, Houweling plans to sell the excess power back to the grid.
“From a common sense perspective it seemed like a no-brainer,” Houweling said, reflecting back to his mindset when he first took on the project financed by lease and equity from company profits.
Yet by the time the greenhouse is ready for use, he’ll have spent a total of $17 million -- with no idea what his financial return will be.
Photo of Casey Houweling in company greenhouse courtesy of Houweling's Tomatoes
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Nope, there is NO way NOx can
Nope, there is NO way NOx can be converted to CO2 and H2O--any HS science student could tell you that. Catalytic converters utilize the unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust for the H and C sources.
Also, Ms. Wong, CO2 is not used as "fertilizer." It is pumped into the greenhouse atmosphere where it accelerates the photosynthetic process.
More publicity for GE?
More publicity for GE?
Can you please tell me how
Can you please tell me how NOx is converted to CO2 and water (H2O)? There's just no carbon nor hydrogen atoms in NOx, but there is nitrogen, which is also considered to be a fertilizer. What do they really do?
Most present-day vehicles
Most present-day vehicles that run on gasoline are fitted with a "three way" converter, so named because it converts the three main pollutants in automobile exhaust: an oxidizing reaction converts carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and a reduction reaction converts oxides of nitrogen (NOx) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), and water (H2O).[1]
catalytic converter ?? Most
catalytic converter ?? Most present-day vehicles that run on gasoline are fitted with a "three way" converter, so named because it converts the three main pollutants in automobile exhaust: an oxidizing reaction converts carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and a reduction reaction converts oxides of nitrogen (NOx) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), and water (H2O).[1]