Integrated Pulsed Lighting Solution for Energy Savings (I-PULSES)

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a promising, alternative solution to alleviating the challenges of abiotic stress and population growth. However, the operation of CEAs is an energy-intensive process as temperature control, artificial lighting, and nutrient dosing, represent a major expenditure for CEA operators. Given CEA's reliance on energy for crop growth, optimum energy and lighting management is essential to the successful operation and adoption of CEA technology. The Integrated Pulsed Lighting Solution for Energy Savings (I-PULSES) is to develop a horticulture lighting and energy management solution with advanced control, enabling customization of species-specific pulsed lighting strategies for increasing energy utilization efficiency. I-PULSES facilitates the coordination and control of multiple CEA assets for interacting with the grid and providing grid services. I-PULSES is capable of optimizing plant growth while maximizing energy savings.The resulting technology will allow us to reap the benefits of CEAs while reducing energy usage and enhancing grid reliability and resiliency, promoting greater adoption of CEAs across the nation.