Technology Catalog

Developed to assist stakeholders in understanding and deploying technologies that enhance the operational energy- and water-efficiency of CEA facilities, this technology catalog builds upon the prior efforts of LBNL and RII to integrate peer-reviewed insights from a wide range of multidisciplinary experts. The technology categories encompass a broad spectrum of existing and emerging technologies that are pivotal for CEA operations, focusing on water and energy technologies for input materials, building envelopes, and essential hardware equipment such as pumps, HVAC, and lighting. It also covers processes such as climate control, along with the controls and automation associated with these processes. Given the critical role of CO2 in enhancing plant growth within CEA facilities, sourcing, generating, and consumption of CO2 at CEA facilities is highlighted as a distinct technology category.

Although several inputs and outputs like fertilizers, biologicals, waste, harvest, and packaging are critical for CEA facilities, they are not included in this catalog but may be addressed in future studies. Additionally, several processes occurring before or after the growing area of the CEA, such as cold storage or processing and packaging, are also crucial but will not be part of the technologies mentioned in this catalog.

An overview of the technology categories included in this catalog is listed below, with comprehensive details available in the complete document.

Energy Systems: Includes onsite renewable generation and storage, combined heat and power (CHP) systems, integrated demand-side management, energy management, battery energy storage, colocation for waste heat utilization, and microgrids (both AC and DC-based).
Building Envelope: Features technologies such as transparent photovoltaics (PV), retrofit films, and dynamic glazing, which are crucial for optimizing the energy efficiency of facility structures.
Hardware (e.g., HVAC, Lighting, Pumps, etc.): Focuses on the electrification of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, incorporating innovations like heat pumps, thermal energy storage, custom-spectrum LED lighting, and sophisticated control mechanisms that adjust lighting based on plant needs.
Process (e.g., Controls & Automation): Includes advanced systems featuring model predictive and demand-responsive controls that optimize various operational parameters for increased efficiency.
Water Management: Features technologies that ensure water recycling and efficiency, including CEA wastewater treatment and efficient irrigation systems.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Utilization: Focuses on technologies related to CO2 sourcing, generation, and utilization.

Technology Matrix

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J
1	Category	Sub-Category	Technology	Purpose	Footprint	CapEx	OpEx	O&M Expertise	Lifespan	Financial Assistance
2	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polycarbonate, Five Wall, 25mm	R-Value: 3.26, U-Factor: 0.31, Light Transmission: 60%	N/A	$$$$	N/A	N/A	10–15 years	N/A
3	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polycarbonate, Triple Wall, 8mm	R-Value: 2, U-Factor: 0.5, Light Transmission: 74–78%	N/A	$$	N/A	N/A	10–15 years	N/A
4	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polyethylene Film, Double, with IR	R-Value: 2, U-Factor: 0.5, Light Transmission: 78%	N/A	$	N/A	N/A	2–4 years	N/A
5	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polycarbonate, Double Wall, 10mm	R-Value: 1.87, U-Factor: 0.53, Light Transmission: 80%	N/A	$$$	N/A	N/A	10–15 years	N/A
6	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Acrylic, Double	R-Value: 1.79, U-Factor: 0.56, Light Transmission: 84%	N/A	$$$	N/A	N/A	15–30 years	N/A
7	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polycarbonate, Double Wall, 8mm	R-Value: 1.6, U-Factor: 0.63, Light Transmission: 80%	N/A	$$	N/A	N/A	10–15 years	N/A
8	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polycarbonate, Double Wall, 6mm	R-Value: 1.54, U-Factor: 0.65, Light Transmission: 82%	N/A	$$	N/A	N/A	10–15 years	N/A
9	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polycarbonate, Double Wall, 4mm	R-Value: 1.43, U-Factor: 0.7, Light Transmission: 83%	N/A	$$	N/A	N/A	10–15 years	N/A
10	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polyethylene Film, Double	R-Value: 1.43, U-Factor: 0.7, Light Transmission: 85%	N/A	$	N/A	N/A	2–4 years	N/A
11	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Acrylic, Single Wall	R-Value: 0.88, U-Factor: 1.13, Light Transmission: 90%	N/A	$$$	N/A	N/A	15–30 years	N/A
12	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polyethylene Film, Single Wall	R-Value: 0.83, U-Factor: 1.2, Light Transmission: 77–87%	N/A	$	N/A	N/A	2–4 years	N/A
13	Building Envelope	Wall materials	Polycarbonate, Corrugated Single Wall	R-Value: 0.83, U-Factor: 1.2, Light Transmission: 90–91%	N/A	$$	N/A	N/A	10–15 years	N/A
14	Building Envelope	Window materials	Double-Pane Storm Windows	R-Value: 2, U-Factor: 0.5, Light Transmission: 78%	N/A	$$$$	N/A	N/A	25–30 years	N/A
15	Building Envelope	Window materials	Glass, Double Pane	R-Value: 1.43, U-Factor: 0.7, Light Transmission: 75–80%	N/A	$$$$	N/A	N/A	25–30 years	N/A
16	Building Envelope	Window materials	Glass, Single Pane, 3mm	R-Value: 0.95, U-Factor: 1.05, Light Transmission: 88–93%	N/A	$$$	N/A	N/A	25–30 years	N/A
17	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Application	CO2 Injection	Crop Management	Small-Medium	$$	$$	Medium	20+ years	N/A
18	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Application	CO2 Distribution (Air Circulation)	Crop Management	Variable	$$	$$	Medium	Needs data	N/A
19	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Application	CO2 Control	Crop Management	Small	$	$	Low	10+ years	N/A
20	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Application	Exhaust Gas Scrubber	CO2 Supply	Large	$$$	$$$	Medium	40+ years	N/A
21	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Source	Compressed CO2	CO2 Supply	Medium–Large	$$$	$$	Low	40+ years	N/A
22	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Source	Fuel-Based CO2 Supply Unit	Electricity, Heat, CO2	Small	$	$	Low	20 years	N/A
23	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Source	Natural Gas Boilers	CO2 (Heat)	Small	$$	$$	Medium	20 years	N/A
24	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Source	CHP Systems	CO2 (Electricity/Heat)	Medium	$$$	$$	Medium	20 years	N/A
25	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Source	Decomposition & Fermentation	CO2 Supply	Small	$$	$$	Medium	5–10 years	N/A
26	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Source	Chemical Method	CO2 Supply	Variable	$$	$$	Low	5–10 years	N/A
27	CO2 Utilization	CO2 Source	Direct Air Capture	CO2 Supply	Medium	$$$$	$$$	Low	20–25 years	N/A
28	Energy	Carbon-free energy	CHP Hydrogen	Electricity, Heat	Medium	$$$$	$$	High	20–30 years	SGIP, IRA Clean Energy Tax Credit (45Y), state-specific
29	Energy	Carbon-free energy	Solar PV	Electricity	Medium	$$	$	Low	30–35 years	ITC (48E), state-specific
30	Energy	Carbon-free energy	Floating Solar PV	Electricity, Reduced Evaporation	Medium	$$$	$$	Medium	30 years	Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit (48E)
31	Energy	Carbon-free energy	Solar Thermal	Heat	Medium	$	$	Low	10–25 years	IRA, 179-D
32	Energy	Carbon-free energy	Concentrated Solar Thermal	Electricity, Heat	Large	$$$$	$$$	Medium	30 years	Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit (48E)
33	Energy	Carbon-free energy	Wind Turbines	Electricity	Large	$$$	$$	Medium	20–30 years	26% tax credit (<100 kW)
34	Energy	Energy demand side	Energy Management	Energy Reduction	N/A	$	Variable	Medium	1–5 years	Local Utility SEM Programs
35	Energy	Energy demand side	Demand Response	Cost Reduction	N/A	$	$	Low–Medium	N/A	None
36	Energy	Energy demand side	Battery Energy Storage	Cost Reduction, Reliability	Small–Medium	$$	$	Medium	5–15 years	SGIP
37	Energy	Energy demand side	Thermal Energy Storage	Cost Reduction, Reliability, Energy Reduction	Medium–Large	$$$	$$	Medium		Section 48 ITC
38	Energy	Energy demand side	Microgrids	Energy Resiliency	Medium	$$$$	$$	High	20 years	None
39	Energy	Low-carbon energy	CHP Biogas	Electricity, Heat, CO2	Medium	$$$$	$$$	High	20–30 years	SGIP, IRA Clean Energy Tax Credit (45Y), state-specific
40	Energy	Low-carbon energy	Wood Fired Boilers	Heat	Small	$$$	$$$	Low	20–30 years	None
41	Energy	Low-carbon energy	Direct Geothermal	Low Grade Heat	Medium	$$	$$	Low	25–50 years	DOE Geothermal Shot, USDA Grant, 30% Business Energy ITC
42	Energy	Low-carbon energy	Indirect Geothermal	Electricity, Heat	Large	$$$	$$$	High	15 years	Federal Production Tax Credit
43	Energy	Low-carbon energy	CHP - Natural Gas Reciprocating Engine	Electricity, Heat, CO2	Medium	$$$$	$$	High	20–30 years	SGIP, IRA Clean Energy Tax Credit (45Y), state-specific
44	Hardware	HVAC	Natural Ventilation	Ventilation & Cooling	Small	$	$	None	30+ years	None
45	Hardware	HVAC	Convection Tubing	Ventilation	Medium	$	$	None	1–5 years	None
46	Hardware	HVAC	Unit Heaters	Heating	Small–Medium	$	$$$	None	15 years	None
47	Hardware	HVAC	Hot Water Systems	Heating	Small	$$$	$$	Medium	15–25 years	None
48	Hardware	HVAC	Root Zone Heating	Heating	Small	$$	$	None	Variable	Yes
49	Hardware	HVAC	Heat Pumps	Heating & Cooling	Small–Large	$$$	$	Medium	10–25 years	Yes
50	Hardware	HVAC	Curtains	Cooling	Medium	$	$	None	7–12 years	Yes
51	Hardware	HVAC	Evaporative Pads	Cooling	Small–Medium	$	$	None	3–5 years	None
52	Hardware	HVAC	Misting	Cooling	Small	$	$	None	25 years	None
53	Hardware	HVAC	Chillers	Cooling	Medium–Large	$$$	$$	Medium	15–30 years	None
54	Hardware	HVAC	Commercial Mechanical Cooling	Cooling	Small–Large	$$$	$$	None	5–15 years	None
55	Hardware	HVAC	Stand-alone/Portable Dehumidification	Dehumidification	Small	$	$	Medium	N/A	None
56	Hardware	HVAC	Desiccant Dehumidification	Dehumidification	Medium–Large	$$	$	Medium	N/A	None
57	Hardware	Lighting	UV-C	100 - 280 nm - Secondary Metabolism	Medium	$$$$	$$$$	Moderate	~5,000–10,000 hours	Some USDA REAP eligibility for disinfection systems
58	Hardware	Lighting	UV-B	280 - 315 nm - Secondary Metabolism, Shade Avoidance	Medium	$$$$	$$$$	Moderate	~5,000–10,000 hours (LED); ~10,000–24,000 hours (fluorescent)	Uncommon
59	Hardware	Lighting	UV-A	315 - 400 nm - Secondary Metabolism, Photomorphogenesis	Medium	$$$	$$$	Low to Moderate	~10,000–15,000 hours	May be bundled under LED upgrades
60	Hardware	Lighting	Blue	400 - 500 nm - Photosynthesis, Shade Avoidance, Metabolism	Medium	$$	$$$	Low	~50,000 hours (LED); ~10,000–20,000 hours (fluorescent)	USDA REAP, utility incentives (LED)
61	Hardware	Lighting	Green	500 - 530 nm - Photosynthesis, Shade Avoidance, Metabolism	Medium	$$$	$$$	Low	~15,000–50,000 hours	May qualify under LED full-spectrum upgrades
62	Hardware	Lighting	Yellow/Orange	530 - 600 nm - Photosynthesis, Secondary Metabolism	Medium	$	$$$$	Low to Moderate	~10,000–50,000 hours	USDA REAP, utility LED conversion programs
63	Hardware	Lighting	Red	600 - 700 nm - Photosynthesis, Shade Avoidance, Photoperiodism	Medium	$$	$$$	Low	~15,000–50,000+ hours	Commonly incentivized (LED especially)
64	Hardware	Lighting	Far-red	700 - 800 nm - Photosynthesis, Shade Avoidance	Medium		$	Low	~50,000 hours	Not typically eligible separately
65	Hardware	Lighting	Infrared	800+ nm - None / Unknown	Medium		$$$$	Low	~10,000–50,000 hours	Not eligible; considered non-productive lighting
66	Process	Controls	Manual Operation	Basic Control	Small	$	$	None	N/A	N/A
67	Process	Controls	Thermostatic Control	Basic Temperature Regulation	Small	$$	$$	None	N/A	Somewhat Common
68	Process	Controls	Step Controller	Discrete Control Steps	Small	$$$	$$	None	N/A	Somewhat Common
69	Process	Controls	Microprocessor Control with Feed-Forward	Predictive & Adaptive Control	Small	$$$	$$	Yes	N/A	Somewhat Common
70	Process	Controls	Environmental Control Systems	Environmental Control	Small	$$$	$	None	N/A	Somewhat Common
71	Water	Advanced water treatment	Hybrid Treatment System	Pretreatment prior to discharge	Medium	$$$	$	Medium	10+ years	Uncommon
72	Water	Water disinfection	UV-C Light	Pretreated source/recirculated water	Small	$$$	$	Medium	1+ years	Uncommon
73	Water	Water disinfection	Chlorine	Pretreated source/recirculated water	Small	$	$	None	N/A	Uncommon
74	Water	Water disinfection	Peroxyacetic Acid	Pretreated source/recirculated water	Small	$	$$$	None	N/A	Uncommon
75	Water	Water disinfection	Ozone	Pretreated source/recirculated water	Medium	$$$	$$	Medium	N/A	Uncommon
76	Water	Water disinfection	ECA	Pretreated source/recirculated water	Small	$	$	None	N/A	Uncommon
77	Water	Water filtration	Coarse Filtration	Prefiltration	Small–Medium	$	$	None	1+ years	Uncommon
78	Water	Water filtration	Rapid Media Filters	Prefiltration	Small	$	$	None	5+ years	Uncommon
79	Water	Water filtration	Membrane Filtration	Pretreated source/recirculated water	Medium	$$$	$$	Medium	2+ years	Uncommon
80	Water	Water filtration	Slow Sand Filters	Pretreatment prior to discharge	Medium	$$	$	Medium	1–10 years	Uncommon
81	Water	Natural water treatment	Constructed Wetlands	Pretreatment prior to discharge	Small–Large	$$$	$	Medium	50+ years	Somewhat Common

Technology Catalog

Project Overview

Technology Catalog

Technology Matrix

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