Latest news with #greenhouses
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
The 'world-first' plan to grow food above a Wiltshire landfill
Plans have been revealed to grow fruit and vegetables using "cleaned" carbon dioxide in greenhouses above a landfill in what it is claimed will be a "world first".The landfill in Wiltshire is run by Crapper & Sons Ltd, which is currently waiting to get planning permission for the company already captures methane coming off the waste to power its operations and send energy to the national grid, as well as producing now started a community interest company called Sustain Wiltshire, it has said it wants to use the site to grow food for the local area all year round. The plans involve using greenhouses on the site to take advantage of CO2 and heat to produce food such as avocados, which are not usually grown commercially in the produce would then be sold to people living in the local area in towns and villages such as Royal Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury and Brinkworth. Project Director Nick Ash said there are other similar projects across the world but the specific Wiltshire one is a world first."What comes out of the top of the gas engine [the one already generating energy] is quite clean CO2. In Europe, that's already used in greenhouses, so we would get that into our greenhouses."So you'd grow them [vegetables and fruit] in a rich CO2 environment so they'd grow better than in normal air," he explained."They [the plants] will be the using the heat, the light and the power, but they will have no contact with the ground at all."The system at the moment takes the gases from the landfill and extracts the methane for power and cleans the gases - for example, by removing hydrogen sulphide and using bacteria - with cleaner CO2 a by-product of the process. The project will involve flattening a large section of the landfill site to create pits - called "cells" - which will be lined with concrete and have waste put in them to produce gas will then be captured and cleaned so it can be used to produce electricity and pump the CO2 into the greenhouses which will sit above the cells."We plan to totally change the way that we effectively landfill," said Mr Ash."It [waste] would go into fast-reacting gas cells, which would produce gas very quickly, then have the rubbish taken out, then [go into] storage cells that would feed recycling." The company also plans to make the greenhouses portable which will allow the pits underneath to be emptied and have fresh waste put that cannot be recycled right away can have the organic matter rot and produce usable gas, and then that waste can also be processed Ash said that if granted planning permission, the project would change the appearance of the site, with more grass and trees added. The project overall is called the Super Midden, based on midden - a word mostly used by archaeologists to describe ancient rubbish & Sons Ltd said the development could produce 80% of the fruit and vegetable needs of the surrounding area, reducing emissions, food miles and improving food Ash told the BBC he does not think it will fail technically and that the biggest challenge will be "introducing something new".
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Equipment manufacturer turns heads with next-gen work vehicles boasting incredible performance: 'It is an ideal tool'
In a huge move for the industrial and construction industries, Spanish equipment manufacturer AUSA has introduced its first-ever electric rough-terrain forklift, per Electrek. Unveiled at the recent Bauma construction fair in Germany, the C151E is designed to bring the well-known benefits of electric vehicles into demanding job sites and represents a significant innovation in heavy‑duty material handling. AUSA shared in a video all the specs of the C151E, including a 3,000-pound loading capacity, battery with up to 18.6 kilowatt-hours, digital display with diagnostics, all-in-one joystick, zero carbon pollution, and it's nearly silent. AUSA said in a press release that the forklift is designed specifically for worksites with low pollution, like greenhouses and enclosed spaces. Electrek reported that the forklift also charges incredibly quickly: "Even if you drive the battery to nearly nothing, the AUSA can be charged up during a lunch break or shift change and ready to work again as soon as you reach for it." There is a growing trend of electrifying necessary equipment in manufacturing industries. Another European Union company announced an all-new electric line of construction equipment in 2024. Australia and China are also seeing similar innovations. Forklifts are indispensable across countless sectors, from agriculture and recycling to logistics and construction. Introducing electric models such as the C151E means smoother, more efficient operations and a great way to cut costs. "It is an ideal tool for working in emission-free spaces such as greenhouses, municipal night works, enclosed spaces, etc.," AUSA said, according to Electrek. Companies can expand their use, because electric assets are allowed where internal combustion isn't. "You can earn more work, get a higher utilization rate, and maximize not only your fuel savings, but generate income you couldn't generate without it," Electrek explained. Beyond financial savings, without tailpipe pollution, the forklift is also beneficial to the environment as well as the health of those operating it. Traditional diesel and gas-powered forklifts can negatively impact air quality and worker health, especially in enclosed spaces like warehouses, because of the release of carbon monoxide as well as known carcinogens. Thanks to innovations like the C151E, it's now easier than ever for companies to cut costs, protect worker health, and get the job done — without all the noise and fumes. It's a win for business and a win for the environment. If you're thinking about switching to electric yard tools, which of these factors would be most persuasive for you? Better for the environment Cheaper to fuel and maintain More enjoyable to use Produce better results Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
5p hack gardeners swear by to get rid of black fly that's plaguing your plants this summer & it works overnight
WITH warmer weather on the horizon, intrepid gardeners might be struggling with the infestation of bugs it could bring. As aphids (greenfly or blackfly) threaten to damage your garden, there is a 5p hack that gardeners swear by to tackle the problem. 2 2 The UK is home to nearly 500 species of aphids - a tiny sap-sucking bug that visits during the warmer months. These hungry bugs vary in colour from green and black to include yellow, brown, and orange - ranging in size from one to seven millimetres long. While they are particularly prevalent in the summer, they can survive year round in warmer environments like greenhouses and conservatories. Different species are drawn to different plants meaning if you have one infestation, it might not spread to the rest of your plants. Having small numbers of aphids is not necessarily a bad thing - they are a vital part of the ecosystem - however large numbers of the bug could weaken and prevent growth in younger plants. Weakened plants might need to be destroyed if infected with a virus - shown by mottled, streaked or distorted foliage, and weak growth - to prevent it spreading. It can also cause wider problems with the 'honeydew' they leave behind. This sticky substance can become infested with black mould, preventing the plant from photosynthesising and restricting its growth. Gardeners are advised to regularly check their plants for aphids, particularly under the leaves, and for signs of honeydew. Predators like birds might help tackle a small infestation, or hand-squashing might be a cheap solution. However, some gardeners swear by a cheap and easy alternative to get rid of the pests - dishwasher liquid. Green thumbs can mix their dishwasher liquid with water before spraying it onto the plants. This homemade alternative provides a cheap way to get rid of the infestation, without the need for harmful insecticides. Gardeners are encouraged to use eco detergents and a very weak solution to prevent wider ecological damage. If you don't want to make a spray at home, you can also buy organic, chemical-fee sprays which are made with plant extracts, plant oils and soft soap. These have fewer harmful consequences for the wider environment. To use these sprays, aim directly at the aphids and re-apply somewhat frequently. Those looking for a more immediate solution might turn to insecticide, but it is important to bear in mind that this risks killing other insects that could help with plant growth. If bees and butterflies access the insecticide through the flowers, it could kill them as well as the targeted aphids. Insecticide run off could also enter the soil which risks harming bugs and further disrupting your garden's ecosystem. According to Gardeners World: "We recommend letting nature take its course: let birds, ladybirds and hoverflies control aphids unless there is a huge infestation and then remove them by hand or with an organic spray. "There should be no need to ever use chemical insecticides in the garden."
Sky News
01-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Essex set to be the home of Europe's largest low-carbon horticulture site
Forty hectares of greenhouses, heated by the burning of rubbish, are set to be built in Essex - making it the largest low-carbon horticulture site in Europe. These greenhouses will be the first of their kind and could provide around 6% of the tomatoes consumed in the UK. It should begin operating in 2027, when almost all the county's household rubbish will come to the Rivenhall site, where it will then be burnt in an incinerator. Gareth Jones works for waste company Indaver, which is building the facility. He said: "The boiler produces steam and some of that steam we'll divert to our new heat exchange, and that will produce the hot water that we'll be sending over to our greenhouses. "The rest of the steam goes to the turbine, so it produces electricity from the substation, and some of the electricity will go directly to the greenhouses." Currently, Essex's household waste goes to landfill where it gives off greenhouse gasses, particularly methane. Indaver claims that the CO2 emitted at the Rivenhall site is 20% less than if the rubbish had gone to landfill, and there are additional environmental benefits. According to Defra, almost half of the UK's fresh vegetables are imported. Tomatoes often come from Morocco, Spain and the Netherlands. But there is growing concern about the vast number of plastic polytunnels in the south of Spain. Almeria's 'Sea of Greenhouses' are even visible from space, and there are regular droughts in the area. Trucks then bring the produce all the way to the UK, releasing thousands of tonnes of CO2 en route. Rivenhall Greenhouse project director Ed Moorhouse says the UK's reliance on importing fruit and veg is not sustainable. "Water porosity in north Africa and in southern Spain is a key issue, extremes of temperature and the effects of climate change," he said. "What we're seeking to do is, if it was tomatoes, to reshore 6-8% of tomato imports by growing in Essex." But the National Farmers Union says further projects like Rivenhall could be hampered by the government's new biodiversity net gain strategy, which forces all developers to benefit nature through their builds. Martin Emmett, chair of the NFU's Horticulture and Potatoes Board, says the policy was "originally designed around housing estates, larger factories and commercial developments". Consequently, companies may have to buy extra land to offset biodiversity impacts, which would affect similar investments across the country. A Defra spokesperson said: "We are working closely with the sector to make Biodiversity Net Gain work more effectively, whilst investing £5 billion into farming, the largest ever budget for sustainable food production to bolster our food security."
CTV News
23-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Good to Grow: Your gardening questions answered
Good to Grow: Your gardening questions answered Colin Matassa from Robert Plante Greenhouses answers some gardening questions on CTV Morning Live
