Greenhouse LED grow lights

Looking to maximize the growth
of your greenhouse with LED grow lights?

LED grow lights are fast distancing the installation of legacy HPS or metal halide in new greenhouses or retrofits. Compared to these technologies, LED fixtures are the better option for growers’ bottom line because of their longevity and lower energy consumption. Not all LEDs are created equal when it comes to greenhouse productivity, with basic LEDs offering simple ON-OFF capability and a fixed spectrum (i.e., non-dynamic LEDs).  

Non-dynamic options include a factory-set light spectra based on average crops’ requirements, which cannot be changed once the fixtures are installed. Other LED lighting systems may offer a limited adaptability enabling minor changes in spectrum. The best option enables full adaptability of the intensity, spectrum and photoperiod. 

LED fixtures are generally more expensive than legacy lighting. This is why another consideration is the availability of rebate programs, which helps with the final return on investment, along with other factors such as energy savings and higher crop productivity.  

In this regard, the electricity consumption of light fixtures is the primary expense driver in a greenhouse and is directly linked to the efficiency of the lighting system. LEDs are roughly twice as efficient as HPS lighting. Specifications such as the fixtures’ extended photosynthetic photon efficacy (ePPE), which is reported in micromoles of light per Joule of input power (umol/J), provide a basic idea of how efficient the lighting solution is. 

Another crucial aspect is the energy-saving potential of LED lighting systems. Specifically, dynamic LED lighting can offer even greater efficiency by automatically adjusting its brightness in real time and responding to changes in ambient light levels. Finally, growers may want to look for certifications such as the DesignLights Consortium® (DLC), a third-party, independent testing organization that can confirm the efficiency of a lighting system. 

How do dynamic LED grow lights increase the yield 
of your crops? 

Lighting conditions, such as the spectrum and intensity, play an important role in crop development by directly impacting photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the biological process through which plants convert light energy into sugars to grow.  

By tailoring the light output to the type of crops, cultivars and genetics, dynamic LED grow lights are the best option to maximize yield. Light intensity (PPFD) determines the amount of light energy available for photosynthesis. A low light intensity will limit photosynthesis, resulting in stunted growth and lower fruit production. A high light intensity can lead to photodamage, reducing plant growth and productivity. Each species and cultivar has a light compensation point and a light saturation point. The compensation point is the minimum light intensity required for the plant to accumulate sugars and grow, while the saturation point is the light intensity beyond which more light does not increase photosynthesis.  

The light spectrum, also referred to as light quality, is vital for plant growth because the proportion of different wavelengths impacts plant development differently. For example, a high ratio of red-to-blue light color promotes leaf growth and stem elongation, whereas a low red-to-blue ratio results in thicker leaves with dark pigmentation. Furthermore, the ratio of red to far-red light can influence flowering in daylength-sensitive crops. The ideal light spectrum for a crop may vary depending on the growth stage and the desired outcome, such as maximizing fruit production or enhancing the color of leaves.  

Aside from changing the lighting conditions throughout the season, dynamic lighting also affects plant growth through light treatments. A treatment is applied during a pre-determined period during which plants grow under a different day length, spectrum and/or intensity. For example, propagators may program a long photoperiod and high-blue spectrum during the final days of growth to ensure a strong, hardened plant that has not stretched. Alternatively, high levels of far-red light during the evening will enhance stem elongation. 

Simply put, a dynamic LED grow light system provides the flexibility to adapt the light to the greenhouse’s environment, the cultivar and the different stages of plants’ growth to maximize yield. 

Sollum Technologies leads with most innovative greenhouse LED lighting system

What makes a lighting system truly dynamic? Four fundamental features lay the foundations of dynamic or adaptive lighting:

1. The fixtures’ output intensity can be changed easily at any time; 
2. The light spectrum can be modified and tailored endlessly; 
3. The solution is programmable and reprogrammable, enabling an unlimited number of lighting scenarios (also called recipes); 
4. The fixtures’ output is responsive to ambient light. 

Why is Sollum’s the most innovative greenhouse LED lighting system? Since it fulfills all four features like no other dynamic/adaptive lighting system, it lets growers achieve optimal growth conditions at all times, enhancing the predictability and quality of harvests. It is the only solution that mimics the natural sunlight to such an extent, thanks to the SUN as a Service® (SUNaaS®) cloud platform powering our patented, AI-powered fixtures, to which Sollum adds a 24/7 smart support system that is so far unequalled.  

The SUN as a Service® cloud platform can generate light recipes (or light treatments) from our library or create custom recipes to grow produce of any kind, anywhere. Tomatoes from Tuscany or from northern Europe will require a different light recipe and our cloud platform can help determine which light treatment is best, based on the cultivar, its native climate and the location of the greenhouse. 

Only Sollum’s fixtures can adapt in real time to changes in intensity, spectrum and photoperiod. They are fully programmable in the greenhouse from a PC or a smartphone, and dim automatically based on ambient light readings. No need to intervene as the system auto-regulates. 

The SUNaaS® cloud platform monitors the system 24/7/365 and collects data on fixture health, which supports preventative maintenance. And the system does continuous lighting analysis based on valuable insights from light reports provide growers with information on how the light intensity changed throughout the day, how the fixtures responded accordingly and finally the accumulated light levels, known as the Daily Light Integral or DLI. 

In addition, SUNaaS® collects multi-target PPFD and daily light integral (DLI) data to meet crop needs thanks to a precise fine-tuning of light intensity based on DLI progression. 

Simply put, the full-spectrum Sollum LED lighting solution is the most flexible (or adaptive), the most autonomous, offers the best support and is the easiest to use.