Summary / Reader Response Draft #1

In the article “Sky Urban Vertical Farming System” (The Index Project, n.d.), the Index Project conveys that the company Sky Greens uses the world’s first hydraulic-driven vertical system. Rainwater and gravity are heavily utilised in Sky Green’s Vertical Farming System. The rainwater works with gravity by flowing from an upper tank containing rainwater down to a water pulley system which rotates the trays towards sunlight and waters the trays of plants with rainwater. After flowing through the water pulley system, the used rainwater flows into a generator which powers the pump which directs the used rainwater back to the upper tank. Sky Greens also emerged victorious for the INDEX award in 2015, an international prestigious award given to remarkable designs that improve lives. The Index Project quotes “Although the concept of vertical farming has been around for over a century, very few have been able to master the technique like Singaporean company Sky Greens” (The Index Project, n.d., para. 2). Sky Greens eliminates the use of LED lights resulting in lower usage of electricity. Therefore, having “the lowest possible negative effect on the environment” (Zaręba et al., 2021, para. 8.2). Such farms will aid in Singapore’s plan of ‘30 by 30’, envisioning to “produce 30% of our nutritional needs locally by the year 2030” (Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, 2023, Grow Local section, para. 6). In light of vertical farming industries making significant progress, through the efficient use of electricity and engineering, Singapore’s ’30 by 30’ goal is highly probable.

Sky Green’s usage of vertical farming system is indeed effective in Singapore context. It’s system consists of a water pulley system, a generator and an overhead water tank. Sky Green is also the world’s first company to design a hydraulic water pulley system that is suitable for tropical area usage. (Permaculture News, 2014) The system houses 38 shelves of crops and have a mimal usage of only 0.5 litres of water daily for each structure while keeping the essences of traditional farming methods, which often rely heavily on electricity and artificial lighting. Their innovative and sustainable design gained global attention, which lead to them winning the INDEX award in 2015.

The three components of Sky Green’s vertical farming system, the water pulley system, the generator and the overheard water tank works hand in hand to tend to the crops at Sky Greens. Rainwater are first collected in the overhead water tank, the rainwater then flows down to the water pulley system. The rainwater flowing down will cause the pulley system to rotate the crops towards sunlight “to ensure uniform distribution of sunlight, good air flow and irrigation for all the plants.”(Permaculture News, 2014, p.6) This also allows the usage of lesser LED lights. Each of Sky Green’s vertical farming system tower only uses 40 W of electricity, which is equivalent to only one light bulb. (Sky Greens, n.d.) Thereafter, the used rainwater will flow further downwards to a generator. The rainwater flowing down will force the generator rotor to spin causing the mechanical energy generated by the descending water to be transformed into electrical energy. (U.S. Energy Information Adminstration, 2022) This eletrical energy powers a pump responsible for returning the rainwater to the upper tank, creating a self-sustaining cycle. This innovative approach not only minimizes water wastage but also significantly reduces the need for external energy sources, making full use of the collected rainwater.

However, due to Singapore being a tropical climate, globalwarming and unpredictable fluctuating rainfall can pose a serious obstacle to Sky Greens' rainwater dependent farming system. In the report “Annual Climate Assessment Singapore”(Metrological Service Singapore, 2022), it was mentioned that there were atleast 11 days of no rain in Singapore in 2022 despite 2022 being the 6th wettest year since 1980. If the days of no rain were longer for years with lesser rainfall, Sky Green’s rainwater usage for it’s vertical farming system may not be able to function to it’s fullest ability.

In conclusion, Sky Greens mastered the usage of vertical farming and supports sustainability as demonstrated through their rainwater usage for their vertical farming system. While they may continue encountering occasional challenges with rainwater availability in Singapore’s climate, their overall approach contributes positively to sustainability.




Reference




The Index Project. (n.d.). Sky Urban Vertical Farming System: Vertical farms to boost veggie output with minimum space.

https://theindexproject.org/award/winnersandfinalists/the-sky-urban-vertical-farming-system




Zaręba, A., Krzemińska, A., & Kozik, R. (2021). Urban Vertical Farming as an Example of Nature-Based Solutions Supporting a Healthy Society Living in the Urban Environment; 10(11), 109. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources10110109




Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. (2023, March 02). Speech by Senior Minister of State Dr Koh Poh Koon – Food and Climate Resilience.

https://www.mse.gov.sg/resource-room/category/2023-03-02-speech-by-sms-koh-poh-koon-at-cos-2023




Ravindra Krishnamurthy. (2014, July 25). Vertical Farming: Singapore’s Solution to Feed the Local Urban Population.

https://www.permaculturenews.org/2014/07/25/vertical-farming-singapores-solution-feed-local-urban-population/




Sky Greens. (n.d.). Sky Greens Vertical Farming System – The world’s first low carbon hydraulic commercial farming system

https://www.skygreens.com/technology/

U.S. Energy Information Adminstration. (2022, November 9). Electricity explained How electricity is generated.
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/how-electricity-is-generated.php#:~:text=In%20a%20turbine%20generator%2C%20a,the%20rotor%20to%20electrical%20energy.

Meteorological Service Singapore. (n.d.). 2022 Annual Climate Assessment Singapore.
https://www.weather.gov.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACAR_2022.pdf