Armela Farms

A fully electric, fossil-free (semi-)closed greenhouse that approaches zero irrigational water demand through use of industrial condensate that is generated by the cooling system.

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Features
Client: Armela Farms
Crop(s): Leafy Greens
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Size: 22.180 m2

Solution
Armela Farms is home to the largest automated facility for lettuce production in the Middle East. Designed for year-round cultivation, the greenhouse is equipped with full mechanical cooling to maintain maximum production in the extreme desert climate. The project has also shown that iceberg lettuce can be successfully grown on the MGS system, expanding the range of crops suitable for this advanced growing method.

Innovative solutions

Technologies implemented in this project:

  • Air cooler condensate is treated into irrigation water within the greenhouse, reducing the water demand to almost zero. 
  • CO2 is kept inside the greenhouse with continuous recirculation, heavily reducing the greenhouse’s CO2 demand. 
  • Fully automated and fully cooled greenhouse: day and night
  • The combination between a high-tech (semi-)closed system and lettuce is by itself already innovative and results in high yield, while keeping the energy and water demand to an absolute minimum. 
  • Fully electric and fossil free.

Project description

Armela Farms utilizes unused desert land and transforms it into a high-tech, sustainable food production facility, while taking reduced carbon emissions and water conservation into the highest regard.

Armela Farms will be the largest automated data-driven growing facility in the United Arab Emirates. Located in Abu Dhabi, the farm will produce over 9,000,000 lettuce heads per annum, an equivalent to 2,300 tonnes.

The greenhouse can run both as a semi-closed and closed system, combining each of their benefits to create an ideal climate for lettuce, while remaining as energy-efficient as possible. The irrigation water demand is low through the use of air cooler condensate: a ‘waste’ stream that is treated to supplement as high-quality irrigation water.

Building a high-tech greenhouse in the desert

Mechanical and adiabatic cooling combined

Growing lettuce in a desert environment: fossil-free and with a minimal water footprint

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Ambitious plans?

Do you want to achieve the best results for your company? We’re ready. +31 88 262 66 66

Get in touch

Bob
Hunsche

Manager Sales