Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Concentration Effects on Bio-Energy Efficiency in the Energetic Dark Greenhouse as a Sustainable Energy Management System

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Candidate, Department of Energy Conversion, Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Energy Conversion, Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Energy Conversion, Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The rapid increase in global population, growing food demand, and the accelerated emission of greenhouse gases have intensified the need for sustainable agricultural systems. Modern greenhouse technologies are recognized as effective solutions to enhance crop productivity while minimizing energy consumption. Among these, the Energetic Dark Greenhouse (EDG) represents an advanced closed-loop cultivation system that operates entirely under artificial lighting with full environmental control. Such systems allow for precise regulation of temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels, thereby enabling optimized photosynthetic efficiency. Since CO₂ is one of the primary substrates of photosynthesis, its concentration in the growing environment directly affects the rate of biomass accumulation. However, the relationship between CO₂ enrichment and plant productivity is non-linear, with saturation often occurring beyond optimal levels. The present study investigates the impact of three CO₂ concentrations (800, 1000, and 1200 ppm) on biomass growth and bioenergy efficiency of six short-term crops cultivated under controlled conditions in a EDG system.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  • The State of Food and Agriculture 2021. The State of Food and Agriculture 2021. FAO; 2021.
  • Paris B, Vandorou F, Balafoutis AT, Vaiopoulos K, Kyriakarakos G, Manolakos D, et al. Energy Use in Greenhouses in the EU: A Review Recommending Energy Efficiency Measures and Renewable Energy Sources Adoption. Applied Sciences (Switzerland). 2022 May 1;12(10).
  • Ghandriz Y, Mahmoodian-Yonesi S, Alvari Y, Zandi M, Gavagsaz-Ghoachani R, Phattanasak M. A new techno-economic solution to supply energy, decrease the peak and reduce the cost of electricity consumed in the new agricultural structure. In: 2022 Research, Invention, and Innovation Congress: Innovative Electricals and Electronics (RI2C). 2022. p. 353–7.
  • Gandomzadeh M, Younesi SM, Mosayyebi A, Zandi M. Development scenarios for electrical energy storage in Iran with Cross-Impact Balance method [Internet]. Vol. 1, Journal of Sustainable Energy Systems. 2022. Available from: https://ses.ut.ac.ir, (Persian).
  • Yaghoubi AA, Gandomzadeh M, Gholami A, Gavagsaz-Ghoachani R, Zandi M. Long-term comparative analysis of machine learning models: A deep dive into applications of artificial intelligence for enhancing photovoltaic performance prediction. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems [Internet]. 2025;170:110866. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142061525004144
  • Akbarnejad S, Piryaei Z, Alvari Y, Shahidi P, Lavasani G, Zandi M. A Comparative Study on Different Energy Storage Scenarios in an Off-Grid Dark Vertical Greenhouse. In: 2025 10th International Conference on Technology and Energy Management (ICTEM). 2025. p. 1–6.
  • Ghandriz Y, Alvari Y, Mahmoodian S, Mosayyebi A, Mir Drikvand M, Jahangiri AA, et al. Dynamic Modeling of Sustainable Water Security Based on Water, Environment, Food, and Energy Nexus (WEFEN) in an Energetic Dark Greenhouse (EDG). Journal of Sustainable Energy Systems [Internet]. 2024;3(4):361–79. Available from: https://ses.ut.ac.ir, (Persian).
  • Alvari Y, ; Mahmoodian Younesi S, Zandi M. Energetic Dark Greenhouses: A Novel Approach in Urban Policy for Agricultural Advancements and Environmental Sustainability. Urban Development Policy Making [Internet]. 2025;2(3):263–75. Available from: https://judpm.ir, (Persian).
  • Younesi SM, Alvari Y, Gavagsaz-Ghoachani R, Zandi M. Modeling of Light and Carbon Dioxide Concentration in Energetic Dark Greenhouse (EDG). In: 2024 9th International Conference on Technology and Energy Management (ICTEM). 2024. p. 1–6.
  • Marchi B, Zanoni S, Pasetti M. Industrial Symbiosis for Greener Horticulture Practices: The CO2 Enrichment from Energy Intensive Industrial Processes. In: Procedia CIRP. Elsevier B.V.; 2018. p. 562–7.
  • Sicher Richard RC, Bunce JA. The impact of enhanced atmospheric CO2 concentrations on the responses of maize and soybean to elevated growth temperatures. In: Combined Stresses in Plants: Physiological, Molecular, and Biochemical Aspects. Springer International Publishing; 2015. p. 27–48.
  • Sara Mahmoodian Yonesi, Yazdan Alvari , Mahdi Soofi Abolghasem Mosayyebi MZ. Mini Energetic Dark Greenhouse (MEDG) with an approach to family economy of Tehran. Urban economics and planning. 2021, (Persian).
  • Alvari Y, Zandi M, Jahangiri A, Ameri M, Gholami A, Shahidi P, et al. BIPV-driven smart vertical greenhouses: a water energy food environment nexus framework for sustainable urban agriculture. Energy Nexus [Internet]. 2025;19:100473. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427125001147
  • Graamans L, Baeza E, van den Dobbelsteen A, Tsafaras I, Stanghellini C. Plant factories versus greenhouses: Comparison of resource use efficiency. Agric Syst [Internet]. 2018 Feb 1 [cited 2023 Jun 5];160:31–43. Available from: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/plant-factories-versus-greenhouses-comparison-of-resource-use-eff
  • Engler N, Krarti M. Review of energy efficiency in controlled environment agriculture. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2021 May 1;141.
  • THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development [Internet]. [cited 2025 Nov 8]. Available from: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
  • Wang J, Guo X. The Gompertz model and its applications in microbial growth and bioproduction kinetics: Past, present and future. Biotechnol Adv [Internet]. 2024;72:108335. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0734975024000296