DOI: 10.4121/126df61b-3fa8-4a23-8125-7a66494947a8.v1
title: Data underlying the publication: Life cycle based design of vertical farms integrated in synergy with urban energy systems

description: Vertical farming systems come with substantial electricity usage for artificial lighting and climate control, resulting in a high carbon footprint. The paper supported by this dataset explores strategies to reduce these emissions, with a primary focus on integrating vertical farms with energy systems. The study examines four scenarios for Amsterdam, considering emissions from crop consumption and energy use. Scenarios I and II use existing energy systems, and crop production with conventional farms (I) or vertical farms (II). In scenario III and IV, the vertical farms are in synergy with the city that uses vertical farm residual heat for building heating. In addition, the vertical farm aligns electricity use with renewable energy availability in scenario IV. <br>The results show a 36% increase of the carbon footprint of Amsterdam with vertical farming for crop production. These impacts are reduced by 13% when using their residual heat in district heat networks. Attuning vertical farm electricity usage to address grid imbalances increased the carbon emissions, raising a crucial debate on the primary focus of attuned electricity usage. Establishing vertical farms in cities requires careful consideration of location, crop selection, light use efficiency, and residual heat reuse to minimise carbon emissions. The added emissions should be weighed against vertical farm benefits such as food security, efficient land-use, and attuned electricity usage. <br>The methodology consists of 7 steps, the methodology diagram is presented in tab 'METHOD'.Step 1 calculates the carbon footprint of farming systems producing each of the five selected crops: lettuce, potato, tomato, strawberry and cucumber. Representing the crop groups leavy greens, strachy vegetables, red vegetables and fruits, berries, and other vegetables, respectively. Step 1a collects the life cycle inventory (LCI) data required to calculate the carbon footprints of vegetables and fruits produced with conventional farming systems in the Netherlands: open field farming (OF), soil-based greenhouse horticulture (GHs), and greenhouse horticulture using artificial light in addition to natural light (GHa). <br>Step 1b and 1c focus on the LCI data of the VF. The carbon footprints of three vertical farms are compared; VFI, VFII, and VFIII. These three VFs produce lettuce and no full life cycle data was available for the other crops included in the research. Therefore, the life cycle data of the VFs producing lettuce wwas used to approximate the carbon footprints of VFs when producing potato, tomato, strawberry and cucumber.<br>Steps 2 to 5 calculations the carbon emissions of the 4 different scenarios, including the emissions related to vegetable and fruit consumption and energy use in the city. The GHG emissions of the four scenarios are defined in kg CO2-eq per capita per year. <br>The four scenarios for the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, include: I. Reference city: the vegetables and fruits consumed within the city are produced using conventional farming systems, including open-field farming and greenhouse horticulture. The energy needs are met using existing systems, a mixture of fossil- and renewable-powered systems.II. Vertical Farm city: the vegetables and fruits consumed within the city are produced using only VFs, while the energy systems remain unchanged.III. Synergetic Vertical Farm city: the vegetables and fruits consumed within the city are produced using only VFs that are in synergy with the city, using the farm’s residual heat to replace the existing heating systems in the city. IV. Attuned Synergetic Vertical Farm city: in addition to scenario III, the VF’s electricity usage is attuned to the availability of renewable energy in the grid. <br>