Abstract
Vertical farming requires high electricity use for lighting and cooling, limiting profitability. The hybrid greenhouse concept addresses this by combining vertical and traditional production, recovering surplus heat from the vertical section to cover heating needs. This study analyzes a Norwegian facility with 600 m² vertical and 12,400 m² traditional greenhouse area. Annual demands are ~2,400 MWh heating, ~1,200 MWh cooling, and ~5,800 MWh lighting, of which 17% is in the vertical section. Strategies for surplus heat recovery are assessed, including ventilation, heat pumps, and thermal energy storage, with further potential from buffer tanks and borehole TES. The results highlight the suitability of hybrid greenhouses in Nordic and temperate regions with renewable, affordable electricity.