Growers like Jawan Farms Sustainable Local Foods in Australia are harnessing the power of LED lighting to cultivate plants year-round while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Throughout human history, growers have discovered that even the sun needs a helping hand at times. It's estimated that greenhouse structures and glazing can block between 30 to 50 percent of solar radiation before it reaches the plants. This challenge becomes even more significant in regions with prolonged dark winters and short growing seasons, necessitating the use of supplemental lighting to optimize crop production. Forward-thinking growers are increasingly recognizing that LEDs are the ideal lighting source for indoor operations, whether as a primary or supplemental light source.

Horticultural LED systems, alongside the spectral science they enable, have unveiled remarkable benefits, including increasing yields per plant through light manipulation, enhancing overall crop quality, and even altering the flavor of produce by modifying light wavelengths. Due to these advantages and more, as detailed below, LEDs are rapidly replacing outdated lighting systems in new and renovated growing facilities. LEDs are a cost-effective choice, offering substantial savings. While the upfront cost of an LED lamp may appear higher compared to traditional lighting, the actual difference is often smaller than perceived. This is because the cost of LED technology has been consistently decreasing each year.

Moreover, LEDs quickly recoup their initial investment in multiple ways. Astute business operators understand the importance of looking beyond the purchase price of equipment and evaluating the total cost of ownership (TCO).

According to the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, energy expenses rank as the third-largest cost for the majority of growers, with lighting constituting a significant portion of these costs, both for greenhouses requiring supplemental lighting and indoor operations relying on sole-source lights.

When sunlight is not optimal, due to winter climates, or night growing, LEDs outperform legacy HPS (high-pressure sodium) lights by a remarkable 66 percent when comparing energy efficiency on a lamp-to-lamp basis. When considering the precise control that LEDs offer, which is unavailable with HPS lights, the energy efficiency gap widens even further.