energy-efficiencybaselinehvacled-lighting
17 kWh/kg: The Energy Reality of Today's Plant Factories
Source: Cai et al., 2025, Applied Energy
A comprehensive analysis of energy consumption in modern plant factories reveals the baseline — and the path to dramatic improvement.
📅 March 8, 2025 📁 Papers 🌐 ZH
The 17 kWh/kg Baseline
Current state-of-the-art plant factories consume approximately 17 kWh per kilogram of produce grown. This is 10-20× higher than field agriculture, creating a significant economic and environmental burden.
Energy Breakdown
| Component | Share of Total Energy |
|---|---|
| HVAC / Cooling | ~45% |
| LED Lighting | ~35% |
| Pumps & Circulation | ~12% |
| Control Systems | ~8% |
Where Optimization Matters Most
The HVAC + Lighting combination accounts for 80% of total energy. This is where targeted interventions yield the highest returns.
Target: 8 kWh/kg
Through optimized HVAC control, high-efficiency LEDs, and targeted airflow systems, achieving 8 kWh/kg is technically feasible — a 53% reduction from today’s baseline.