Design and start-up of the ÉTS Container Farm

The aim of this project is to design and implement the ÉTS container farm. It is part of a research program funded by the John Evans Program of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

This program aims to improve the energy efficiency of indoor plant production enclosures (IPPEs), particularly container farms (CFs). The underlying research activities revolve around five objectives.

• Collect and share data;
• Test innovative energy technologies;
• Develop and calibrate a numerical model;
• Improve control and command;
• Establish performance indicators and make recommendations.

To achieve these objectives, it is essential to have access to a CF including innovative energy systems that are fully instrumented, controllable and parameterizable by the user. This type of device is not currently available in Canada, and will enable three professors to combine their expertise in experimental device development (Prof. Haillot), energy system modeling (Prof. Monfet) and plant physiology in controlled environments (Prof. Dorais).

The project will enable the development of an expertise that will stimulate the related commercial and industrial sector, thereby promoting the growth of CF in both remote and urban environments.

Once the experimental protocols have been defined, the equipment will be available to the academic and industrial community for production cycles.