Events

    Free Webinar, Indoor Agriculture Resiliency, June 12, 1-3 pm PT

  • 12 June 2025
  • Start time : 01:00 PM
  • End time : 03:00 PM
  • Event Host : Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Free PG&E Webinar, Indoor Agriculture Resiliency, June 12
Event Description

California's 4,600 greenhouses and indoor farms use diverse energy sources to produce a consistent supply of high-quality horticultural products including flowers, food and cannabis. Process systems like lighting and HVAC account for up to 60% of greenhouse or indoor farm operating costs and potential power outages put the 24/7 operation of these systems at risk. This intermediate course for growers and design professionals will explore strategies for efficiency, electrification, and on-site energy generation. Participants will learn how to integrate these approaches to develop resilience plans for both the short and long term. Attendees will compare the investment cost, energy and utility bill savings, and payback periods for example retrofit and new construction projects and prioritize projects to consider adding to their operational resilience plan.
 

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe recent advancements in greenhouse and indoor farm process system efficiency
  • Compare traditional and high-performance process systems for various applications in greenhouse and indoor farms producing food, flower, and cannabis
  • Judge the potential for combined heat and power systems at agricultural operations
  • Summarize relevant regulations related to efficiency of greenhouse and indoor farm process systems like horticultural lighting, greenhouse envelope, and dehumidification
  • Interpret electrification potential for major systems in greenhouses and indoor farms
  • Create a resilience plan to optimize operational expenses and comply with regulatory requirements
  • Formulate design considerations for new facilities employing efficient equipment, electrified systems, and on-site energy generation with combined heat and power systems

  • Host Company/Organization Name
    • Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
  • Agenda
    • - Introduction and safety message
      - Recent advancements in process system efficiency
      - Benefits and disadvantages of traditional and efficient process equipment
      - Electrification potential for major systems
      - Evaluating the potential for combined heat and power systems
      - Real-world resilience examples across greenhouse and indoor farm process systems
      - Current and future regulations
      - Design considerations for new facilities
      - Resiliency planning
  • Speakers / Presenters
    • Gretchen Schimelpfenig, PE

      Gretchen Schimelpfenig is a Senior Energy Engineer at Energy Resources Integration (ERI), a clean energy consulting firm developing a sustainable future for our planet through cost-effective energy management. She leads emerging technologies studies exploring innovative solutions to save electricity and natural gas in commercial, industrial, and agricultural buildings. She has worked with over 250 growers and researchers to optimize greenhouses and indoor farms through her emerging technology research, efficiency program implementation, and consultation with growers across North America. She is a licensed Civil Professional Engineer in California and Vermont.
  • Cost
    • FREE Event
  • Event type
    • Online/Webinar

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