Simulation of greenhouse energy and strawberry (Seolhyang sp.) yield using TRNSYS DVBES: A base case

This research establishes a base case scenario encompassing the energy behavior of the greenhouse and its direct influence on the yield of strawberries (Seolhyang sp.) to evaluate the performance of the greenhouse energy demand and its effect on crop yield. The objective is to develop a ventilated discretized volume building energy simulation (DVBES) that predicts energy demand, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) of a greenhouse and develop a predictive strawberry yield model that predicts the strawberry yield. This study used two single-span double-layer experimental greenhouses with different features. Experimentation was conducted in the winter season of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Hourly temperature, RH, and daily fuel consumption were used to validate the DVBES model. Weekly temperature, RH, solar radiation (SR), and yield were used to validate the strawberry yield model. The results show high prediction accuracy with minor errors. For a single-span double-layer greenhouse at E-W (90 degrees) orientation, the total energy demand and strawberry yield were 113.861 MJ.m(-2) and 0.466 kg.plant(-1).season(-1), respectively. The findings serve as a foundation for further research on optimizing energy consumption in greenhouse environments. This research contributes to advancing knowledge in sustainable agriculture and facilitates the transition toward a greener and more resource-conscious future.