'Green' greenhouses in Italy
In the Seventies the Ciccolella grower family started cultivating a range of roses in Southern Italy. This soon followed with the production of Anthuriums and pot plants. Nowadays Ciccolella has more than 100 hectares of greenhouses and they grow countless sustainable products, renowned for both quality and beauty.
As the biggest rose grower in Europe and the biggest Anthurium grower in the world, Ciccolella plays a leading role in finding new, sustainable growing techniques. Ciccolella invests in state-of-the-art, energy-saving technologies, like cogeneration, re-using substrate, water and nutrients and utilise solar panels.
CHP: intelligent use of residual heat
Residual heat is released when generating electricity. This residual heat is mostly emitted into the air and as such is squandered. This residual heat can however be used more effectively, via a technique known as Combined heat and power (CHP), also called cogeneration. CHP uses less net energy and in turn emits less CO2: a far better outcome for the environment and a positive contribution in reducing the greenhouse effect.
The Ciccolella greenhouses are located alongside the Edison power plant (an Italian energy company). In 2004 Ciccolella and Edison decided to integrate their facilities. Edison built a new, highly efficient and environmentally-friendly power plant. The residual heat from this power plant is now used in the neighbouring Ciccolella greenhouses in Melfi and Candela and supplies all the greenhouses with their total energy requirements.
For the most part CHP is used in heavy industry and for civil purposes. This type of application is new, making the Ciccolella and Edison project a unique European breakthrough.
Re-use of substrate, water and nutrients
In the Ciccolella greenhouses the plants do not grow in the soil but on a substrate known as Perlite, which comprises small white mineral bubbles, made from a volcanic glass. It is an environmentally-friendly natural product that can be responsibly re-used for many years after the crop.
This soil-less cultivation system helps regulate the supply of water and nutrients. This prevents environmental pollution as any surplus isn’t drained away in the surface water; rather it is re-used for crop growing purposes. With the ‘closed loop’ method each and every plant receives the right amount of water and nutrients. The amount of nutrients not absorbed by the plant (approx. 40-50% of the nutrient solution), is drained off, collected and subsequently corrected on pH and EC levels. The nutrient solution is then reintroduced to the crop and in so doing, is fully re-used.
Solar panels
The Ciccolella greenhouses are located in sunny Southern Italy: the ideal location to utilise solar panels. A solar panel is a sustainable energy source that converts solar energy into electricity and heat. It is an exceptionally clean and environmentally-friendly source of energy. At present the roofs of the 15 hectares of greenhouses all have solar panels, with an additional 30 hectares planned for the future.
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