High-yield Solar Greenhouse harvests food & energy (timelapse)

In the mountains overlooking Barcelona, a team at Valldaura Labs has built a solar greenhouse that harnesses the sun both to grow plants and to create energy to power the hydroponic system for year-round growing.
The unit is providing food for the lab’s kitchen, as well as for a local restaurant, but it’s also a prototype for urban food self-sufficiency, and a larger model is currently being built on the roof of a new Barcelona skyscraper.
The wood for the prototype was all harvested, milled, dried, processed and pressed into CLT (cross-laminated timber) boards entirely on-site. All the pieces were designed to snap together, every joint pre-planned on computer and all hinges were custom CNC-printed, as Valldaura Labs' co-director Daniel Ibáñez explains.
The planting method is all hydroponics, using sawdust waste from the lab as the substrate. The greenhouse is irrigated with rainwater which is recaptured after going through the hydroponic system, to be reused on the gardens.
The students and teachers at IAAC (Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia) hope that their two-story greenhouse can serve as a prototype for urban rooftop food production. Currently, a 100-square-meter version is being built atop a new wooden skyscraper that will be Catalonia's tallest CLT building.
Master in Advanced Architecture and Biocities iaac.net/educa...
Valldaura Self Sufficient Labs: iaac.net/proje...
Philipp Wienkämper (student) www.youtube.co...
On *faircompanies: faircompanies....

[@malama_ka_aina]

CLT, aquaponics and 3D printing. I'm a structural engineer in Oakland, California and have been using all these tools to build the structures and habitats we want to live in. We have yet to get everything all on one project, but we're working towards that. Viva Catalonia!

[@thinkplanetearth2946]

What was amazing to me was the amount of knowledge that they have to do all of this. Because it's not just about the production of the food, with its irrigation system and solar power, etc., but also the engineering that went into designing and building the greenhouses themselves. Really impressive.

[@starflowy]

Even forestry knowledge to know which trees to cut down and then milling the lumber themselves. Amazing

[@gorillax1374]

Your best video in a while. His combination of expertise, articulation, and enthusiasm made for an enjoyable 20 minutes. And you did exactly the right thing by just letting him roll....

[@maxwoodworth]

Much respect to people who think of such systems and then make them happen. Hands-on education for students and teachers alike, too!

[@waveydavie]

I was headhunted for a job in Barcelona working on the design of the 1992 Olympics buildings. If it weren't for the fact my passport was out of date, I would have put down roots there in Catalonia! This greenhouse is stunningly beautiful! I dabbled in organic aquaculture in a 300 sq.m. polytunnel for a while using fish but went vegan soon after and gave it up.

[@nullplus_space]

Thank you Kirsten for this amazing opportunity to give an insight about the Solar Greenhouse to you and your community! I also wanted to mention and thank all the students for their incredible work and dedication to make this possible.

[@majamoore6209]

What is the name of the company that makes the solar cells encapsulated in glass?

[@nullplus_space]

@@majamoore6209 it’s Onyx Solar

[@claytonkmbrough4422]

As a budding sustainable agro-nut and young homeowner, your videos give me an overwhelming amount of great ideas!

[@i_am_a_freespirit]

Now this Video I was VERY interested in. I am a 62 year old widow and I am learning first hand about Solar Energy. I am also interested in hydroponics...not knowing anything about anything, I am gradually, with videos like this, learning about the things I am interested in. I am also wanting to build my dream House in the near future and it is supposed to be TOTALLY self-contained and Energy efficient. I want to learn about passive and Thermal Energy. So my start is my solar panels that I just installed on my roof and hooked to my deep cycle batteries. I been watching arkopedia Videos and had the idea of living in my Green House, using the heat from the Greenhouse to heat your House inside the Greenhouse. Using your water system from collecting rainwater to filtering for cooking, showering and continuing to use the same water for everything else... Recycling the gray water for your gardens...yes, I have big dreams and I thank utube Videos to slowly bring my ideas into reality...one step at a time...thank you so much

[@rzella8022]

You're on your way-- good luck!

[@AutoNomades]

if you like hydroponics, i'm sure you'll love aquaponics ! Managing the right amount of fishes in the water to fertilize it, then sometimes you can eat them with the vegetable you grew with ; )

[@daviddavis4005]

Gooood evening from central Florida! Hope everyone has a great night!

[@lavondacarter7228]

Nice you revisited this place, wish you could do more updates , like this.

[@dwylhq874]

Awesome! 😍 this video could easily have been an hour and it would fly by! More please! 🙏

[@Hansens75]

Was für ein schönes Projekt. Die jungen Leute haben den ganzen Prozess von der Nutzungsidee, der Herstellung des Materials bis zum Aufbau alles selbst gemacht. So wertvoll für ein vollumfängliches Verständnis des ökologischen Bauens und deren Zukunft.

[@drakekay6577]

Thoroughly impressed by everything I see, even what is NOT in the presentation. Love the terracing slopes, like the ancient sites in South America!

[@drakekay6577]

Wish I could join the endeavor with my knowledge of tilapia aquaculture.

[@alanmcrae8594]

Love the creative work that these people are doing - requiring lots of practical, hands-on skills that are directly related to an authentic human life. The greenhouse project is a nice blend of high tech carpentry, hydroponics, rainwater harvesting, and thoughtful CAD design. Using lumber created from their own forestry management is the ultimate in sustainable development. Way to go! My wife & I are working on our own 21st century sustainable homestead project and we got some solid ideas & inspiration from this video. Thanks Kirsten!

[@donniekingston2154]

Enhorabona Valldaura labs! Thanks Kirsten, cant wait to see more projects here in Catalonia ❤

[@pattywest1]

Brilliantly done. This should become mandatory for all buildings

[@jafinch78]

Excellent to see the multistory greenhouse designs.

[@MBMCincy63]

I really appreciate the self sustaining features. I thank you Kirsten for these types of places, it is awesome to see the creativity and fabrication of self sustaining practices.

[@tinekejoldersma]

I like it you keep visiting this project. Its development is so interesting to follow.

[@atimko123]

Great vid. I love the design, especially the way the glass siding is attached like a shingle and allows for ventilation....This also reduces the lateral wind loads. Well done!!

[@deanebrownfield6866]

Now that is one expensive salad if just a greenhouse but with people actually living below in a passive solar home for heating and cooling with solar panels to provide electricity a community of homes could easily supply their own needs with proper waste and grey water systems. Nice prototype for what will one come from this research. Good job.

[@FalloutConspiracy]

I really like the design of this tiny little green house! It's interesting to see how all of the wood framing for the structure was harvested and cultivated on-site. It seems like a project small enough for one or two people with the right expertise to build, but it appears from the footage shown here that they had plenty of outside help, which is always great! In any case, bravo!

[@HayenMill]

Basically an application of agrivoltaics, good to see more people experimenting with it!

[@Hunting2Restore]

Great video! Just let them know they have a mass buildup of algae in their tanks because they need to paint them black to stop the growth. The algae can clog up their pipes as well. Just a helpful tip😊

[@Juber777]

Maybe they're growing algae in that tank as a biofuel and animal feed (jk but it's a thing in a couple places, Hawaii and Israel)

[@colinkelley6493]

It was not algae. What you saw was duckweed, a very small floating vascular plant, which only grows on the surface, does not clog the plumbing, kills mosquito larvae, inhibits algae, grows so quickly that it doubles every three days, is 50% protein (nitrogen) and can be skimmed with a net and used as fertilizer. I suspect they are probably mixing it with the sawdust to create compost. There are farmers in Vietnam who mix it with rice hulls and raise chickens on it. Poor people eat duckweed in Cambodia and Africa. The Aztecs used to do stuff with it. You can buy it at Walmart to put in an aquarium.

[@Hunting2Restore]

@Colin Kelley no sir, I know what I saw inside of the containers. I also know the difference between duckweed and algae. Thank you though, but it is algae

[@colinkelley6493]

@@Hunting2Restore Sorry, I went back and looked at it again. At 10.08 minutes into it, where a stream of water is going into that pond you can very clearly see the individual duck weed plants and there is no algae. It is really really clear this is duck weed. Nothing personal. It is what it is.

[@harlankraft578]

@@colinkelley6493 I believe They are talking about the algae in the Barrel.

[@JimTheDruid-db3ok]

I built a 12 x 12 foot pit greenhouse in rural Missouri in the USA with concrete walls. It was five feet deep in the earth. The floor was 56 degrees year round. It was incredibly energy efficient. The glazing was angled to optimise light gathering at the coldest time of the year for the latitude.

[@happydaysveg1965]

Absolutely Wonderful. From a man who tries to grow his own veg, this video is inspiring. And has given me even more ideas! Thank you. Shaun.

[@user-mx4kk5mm1x]

Thank you Kirsten! Take care.

[@firefox39693]

I'm really looking forward to hearing about that mass-timber social housing project.

[@GoingsoloinFrance]

This looks like an incredible amount of effort to some thing that costs next to nothing to do on flatter ground.

[@tomt637]

It's something that's got feasibility in cities but to do this if you've got even just 1/4 acre or a back yard it would more than likely be a passion project but it's still an awesome greenhouse

[@sandrajohnson9926]

The greenhouse of my dreams. No audio. In & out, still no audio.

[@chezmoi42]

It's not them, it's fine for everyone else. Check your system?

[@holaholaoficial]

MUY BELLO, GRACIAS POR COMPARTIR 🇲🇽🤗🕊️

[@Alleykatukr]

That’s a huge investment to be able to have fresh salads.

[@estevestrada]

Vaig estar a Valldaura Labs fa cosa d'un mes a traves de la universitat; molt inspirador el lloc i la mentalitat de buscar noves formes d'habitar en major corcondància amb la natura aprofitant la ciència i l'arquitectura, increïble!!

[@abundantYOUniverse]

Really great as always thanks!

[@yekaterinapanferova1410]

Well done. Good job. Good idea. Thanks for the video

[@mmac4047]

How do they prevent temperature swings - since they have so little thermal mass to moderate the temp swings? And each window is open in the bottom so warm air and cold air will vent out or be lost to conduction on the single layer glazing?

[@Vadlife]

Indeed, wintertime growing greens would be a struggle because lots of the vegetables need warmth in order to grow. Interesting idea though.

[@harlankraft578]

Mediterranean climate near Barcelona what works there wouldn’t work everywhere else in the world!

[@zacharypetty7525]

I can imagine they are growing in accordance to the season so the plants are naturally accustomed to the weather

[@joeeigo9820]

Nice project. Just I always wonder why people using white/half transparent water tanks. As you can already see, the algy is already thriving inside. The tanks are super difficult to clean and the tanks will much sooner become a sturdy piece of trash then a black water tank for a few euro more.

[@anthonysinclair5721]

Quite an impressive project they have going on. I've never seen plants growing in pure sawdust , I think the wood will steal most of the nitrogen the plants need for their development.

[@harlankraft578]

There was Soil beneath the wood chips they were more a mulch helps to hold the moisture!

[@cupbowlspoonforkknif]

They are being fed nitrogen and other nutrients through the water. I think the wood chips don't steal very much.

[@therealkrystalvintage]

thank you for the best most relevant conversations here 🤗

[@mikeluit3027]

Cool. Hydroponics. It works in a limited way or in mass. Just a quick observation for the people in the greenhouse; you should put in a small dumb waiter/elevator to eliminate the need to walk up and down the embankment. You could power the elevator with a pulley system so you wouldn't need to use electricity.

[@carlospaloma9324]

Wow! Very nice project!

[@jamesalanstephensmith7930]

GREAT Design!

[@rhtservicesllc]

Interesting to use saw dust and wood chips as a medium to hold water. Just would have to make sure that it was untreated wood

[@sarahburton3110]

Happy New Year to all

[@arnaldopiaui4889]

hi, miss dirksen, good job, congratulations for family

[@beerenmusli8220]

This was a fascinating Video and delightful to watch!

[@martinmatejka8335]

This is amazing! Truly amazing!

[@tomaszleszczynski8928]

Great idea, great architecture, great people. Good luck in future projects.

[@jamiecurran3544]

Great video, these student's n their projects give us old school heads hope that there is people outthere doing something to create a better future for humanity!☺️, I wish them all the luck in the world n give my full respect to them!🤔😜💜✌️

[@juliendesmet9423]

Your films are amazing!

[@leswallace2426]

An awful lot of resources went into making that greenhouse and I get the impression it's main produce is a few leaves for a salad!

[@stevegerber169]

I don't understand why they left big gaps where the wall windows overlap. Normally a greenhouse is designed so that it can be sealed airtight on cold nights but there appears to be no way to close these gaps as needed.

[@chezmoi42]

Look up the climate info on Barcelona. These plants could be growing outdoors, they are not fragile tropical specimens.

[@casperunnerup]

Cool looking greenhouse. But I would be scared as hell walking around that structure. The clamps holding those windows don't look very strong and after a couple of seasons with rain, then they'll fail catastrophically

[@ОлександерСеменіхін]

Bardzo ładne! Dziękuję! Good 😊 Year!

[@jacekpalka55]

Just perfect in every way - wow

[@muhamadna5157]

I noticed heavy soiling on the solar panels (on top of Voxel Quarantine building). May I suggest you to tilt the solar panels (approx 10 degree) to allow rainwater to flow, instead of accumulating on the solar panel surface.

[@grueneauen]

Awesome project and so much passion of these students. 🥰

[@sidilicious11]

Just brilliant!

[@suryakamalnd9888]

Amazing video!

[@wiboxermom7829]

Very interesting and amazing.

[@sergigorchs7329]

Al costat de casa i no sabia q es feia aquesta mena de treballs. Molt interessant.

[@donniekingston2154]

Totalment!

[@SoCalFreelance]

Me eyes were immediately drawn to the window design, so glad you deep dived the topic. I was surprised to see a permanent gap between the windows. I would think they would use a microcontroller, sensors, and servos to open and completely close off windows to regulate the temperature and humidity of the space, especially in winter. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@cindywiner2772]

Wow, Incredible!!!!!!!!!

[@elizabethhurtado2829]

Solar spectrum helps garden growth

[@bodyzoasispersonaltraining9186]

So beautiful

[@jamietomlinson8787]

Hi from north al. I miss Florida.

[@s1nb4d59]

Fallen logs also provide food eventually for birds and insects if left where they fall.

[@dama9150]

This is how we need to be growing our food so that we can leave more land for nature. Not sure why they built it behind a tree tho. It's really good for people living in cities to be growing some of their food, not least because it helps them understand the energy and effort needed to provide our food, and it keeps the limitations of nature in mind.

[@clovermark39]

Pity we can’t survive just on salad. Can they grow other things. Does this mean leaving the actual land for animal farming?

[@AlexdaCunha]

really cool! thanks

[@filonin2]

0:39 Broken ladder rung, it was a good idea to edit the near-fall out lol.

[@marielg9143]

I pray that a new way of building continues and catches on for the rest of the world

[@hillpunk92]

very cool! really enjoyed this.

[@brendafosmire6519]

I have read that hydroponics grows plants which are less nutrient full. I would like to see a video that confirms that hydro grown matches soil grown.

[@TheBlackbirdii]

the german dude looks like a time traveller from the 80's

[@karlbe8414]

Gorgeous, but, why not trim that tree blocking the light to the greenhouse??

[@AutoNomades]

Maybe to profite of a bit of shade in summer, when it is baking hot...?

[@shaystern2453]

great drone footage

[@amac9245]

I wonder if the water holding tanks could be converted into an aquarium and placed within a solar structure. This would enable some fish farming and proving the plants with nutrients from the fish waste.

[@Jan-Boer]

Wonderful project, but not an environmentally friendly way of producing food. When I look at all the costs of the plant to produce a few leaves of lettuce. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with a possible cost-effective way of producing food to feed us. Thanks for the video.

[@lunzs]

Omg love his accent ❤

[@rabidhellhound9714]

Please ask them specifically who makes those solar panels. I LOVE the idea of staggered panels to let light through in a greenhouse roof. And those with the checkered box pattern appear to be ideal. I would love to know who makes them so that I can get specs and potentially buy them.

[@Ang.0910]

Me too but no reply! I want them on my greenhouse

[@JoelWelter]

Now I want a garden. In my house. This may be an issue for my wife. I will update.

[@AutoNomades]

Hello, what about _transparency_ ? Where come's from the money ? How are taken decisions ? What is the cost of the structure ? Productivity per € spent ?

[@okra3000]

As someone who has an aquaponics farm, I approve. However I see many inefficiencies in his design; good start though.

[@9catlover]

i would love to make a mini one of these for all my seedlings. but i'd have to heat it to so it doesn't get too cold

[@AutoNomades]

When i'll get taller, i'll invent something i'll call the liquid water 😁

[@WillHal1000]

Wouldnt plants need their nutrients from soil instead of sawdust?

[@Shawnsrumi]

I’m really interested in the PV panels. I’m frantically trying to find PV panel theater allow light to pass through between the cells.

[@justinciallella4724]

Solar panels perform best with lower temps. I'd think the greenhouse would raise solar panel temps, reducing efficiency.

[@foamformbeats]

I love the idea but those LED lights should be much closer to the greens. they won't provide nearly as much energy when they are so far away.

[@osmmanipadmehum]

Id like to see if innovation is going in the direction of Arcologies of Sim City 2000.

[@smiley2477]

I would be kinda weirded out taking a shit over a bunch of worms. Like what if they move around and go up your but? That’s just a little too much for me but I love the hydroponic system.

[@eelcohoogendoorn8044]

Is this just my dutch sensibilities, or is is weird to build a greenhouse in the shade of a tree? If you want to moderate the intensity of the incident sunlight, there are more controllable options than an immovable tree shadow, no? Some wooden slats you can rotate or something?

[@guallart]

You have good sensibility: there was a discussion with students and they vote not to cut the branches. So it produce a bit less energy that without branches

[@eelcohoogendoorn8044]

@@guallart I suppose you can afford to lose a bit of sun in Spain

[@hillpunk92]

id like to know how they dont have sick plants from using that dirty hyrdo tank? i havnt used hyrdo systems in years maybe theres new tecs?

[@perryingto]

If this guy says “like “ one more time, give him a copy to listen to for a hour

[@kalebrosenberg8294]

these kinda weak LED strips seem way to far away to make a notable impact on growth

[@Jkauppa]

try centrifugal ducted impeller wind turbine, as both horizontal/vertical axis wind turbine, mounter on top of a wood heat chimney, self-ducted, single piece, check the models videos on this page

[@Jkauppa]

use transparent plastic instead of the glass, the less you break, the better, and the glass costs (your prices) a ton

[@Jkauppa]

no participation, only freedom, if you design for community, you are not free, wrong design goal, dont be slaves to things or people, be freed by God, alone

[@Jkauppa]

no dont recommend yourself to money slavery

[@cupbowlspoonforkknif]

Silly question. Why do you need a greenhouse in Spain? Does it even freeze there?

[@guallart]

sometime it freeze. And the prototype is to be used in the city

[@Veron668]

This is very interesting, in general, as context for gardening and home projects as well as for the science behind it, but I could not watch it until the end, as the gentlemen says "like" every 3 to 4 words in multiple sentences. I'm also not a native english speaker, but I expect a bit more from an academic on film ...

[@gimmetheacoountplix]

Hi, can we find out where we got those solar panels? Those exact transparent ones?