In mid-November, DICANS was asked by the client, whether they could provide a solution for improvement of the quality and increasing the production of medical cannabis. After the first contacts and discussions by e-mail and phone, the client visited DICANS facility in Wateringen to create a solution together. After an analysis, the client and DICANS came to the conclusion that the first steps and fastest solution could be done with additional light by means of a hybrid lighting system. "The decision to go for both HPS as well as LED was based on the fact that there is no heating system in the greenhouse," Roderick Meinma with DICANS explains. "Plants in the flower zones will take the heat from the HPS. This in combination with LED will eliminate the lack of the heating system, plus providing different light spectra from the HPS and LED."
On December 9, DICANS received the official order for final engineering and delivery of the lighting system. Right before Christmas the HPS (High Pressure Sodium) and LED fixtures, brackets and mounts, cabling and switch panels were delivered at the building site.
"The local team for the installation and our Dutch team worked extremely hard, after which the first compartments (mother rooms) were operational in the first full week after New Year's. In week 6, the temporary diesel generators were supplied for the additional energy requirement," he further explained.
Local workers started installing the lighting system, under supervision of DICANS in the first week of January 2020. The system is installed in a 9000 m2 greenhouse located in South Europe, to improve the quality and increase production of their medical cannabis. "The most important things for growing medical cannabis is an optimum light intensity and spectrum in combination with the optimum climate, temperature, but most importantly the humidity should be in balance."
"Thanks to the solid and quick collaboration of our client and DICANS, all deliveries and works were realized in an amazing quick timespan. The next step is to explore and realize further improvements adjusting the climate by heating, dehumidification, temperature control and the final definite energy supply. When having the optimal balance in light, climate (heating, cooling, and humidity control) and CO2 levels, in combination with irrigation strategy, one should be able to get the best results, both in quantity and quality. Of course, this has to be combined with a perfectly balanced control system, and also, last but not least, the knowledge of the grower and of the crop consultant."
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