Energizing Sustainable Agriculture: Advances in Greenhouse Heating through Microwave-Based Technologies

Francesco Cepolina, Federico Silenzi, Leonardo Cirillo, Corrado Schenone () and Matteo Zoppi
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Francesco Cepolina: Department of Mechanical, Energy, Management and Transportation Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all’Opera Pia 15a, 16100 Genoa, Italy
Federico Silenzi: National Institute for Nuclear Physics, Genoa Section, Via Dodecanneso 33, 16145 Genoa, Italy
Leonardo Cirillo: Department of Mechanical, Energy, Management and Transportation Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all’Opera Pia 15a, 16100 Genoa, Italy
Corrado Schenone: Department of Mechanical, Energy, Management and Transportation Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all’Opera Pia 15a, 16100 Genoa, Italy
Matteo Zoppi: Department of Mechanical, Energy, Management and Transportation Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all’Opera Pia 15a, 16100 Genoa, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-19

Abstract: For the agricultural sector to develop sustainably in the future, progress toward more environmentally friendly technologies and methods is crucial. It is necessary to increase output while reducing the demand for energy, agrochemicals, and water resources. Although greenhouses can be utilized successfully for this purpose, significant technical advancements are required, especially when it comes to heating, to lower the use of fossil fuels and boost energy efficiency. Microwaves can warm plants without heating the entire greenhouse volume, which takes a significant amount of energy to compensate for heat loss in the outdoor environment. In this paper, through a thorough examination of the state of the art, a general overview of novel greenhouse heating systems based on radiation is reported. First, the strengths and weaknesses of microwave heating are discussed, and finally, the use of microwaves for soil sterilization is examined. All outcomes suggest these irradiation-based technologies can contribute significantly to energetically sustainable agriculture; moreover, they can be used to increase plant comfort.

Keywords: microwaves heating; greenhouse heating; pest control; soil sterilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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