Energy-efficient heat pumps developed by the Technopark industrial complex in Tashkent are undergoing practical testing for use in greenhouses for growing vegetables without traditional fuels, according to the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture.
To test the new technology, two innovative greenhouses were built at Technopark in January to grow tomato and cucumber seedlings. The experiment is assessing the efficiency of the heat pumps during the cold season.
Heat pumps are approximately four times more efficient than electric boilers, generating up to 4 kW of thermal energy with 1 kW of electricity.
The system operates by heating water to 55–60°C, maintaining a stable and optimal temperature inside the greenhouse for plant growth.
The heat pump system is integrated with solar panels. As a result, the electricity needed to heat the greenhouse is partially supplied by solar energy. This significantly reduces energy costs compared to traditional heating systems using natural gas or coal.
The pilot project is an important practical step toward the widespread adoption of energy-efficient technologies in greenhouse farming.
Greenhouses heated by burning natural gas and coal are widely viewed as contributors to air pollution in the Tashkent region, so the new technology is expected to help improve the environmental situation.
Photo: gov.uz
