Growers working in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) consider energy efficiency the top priority in 2025, according to the 2024 Global CEA Census from vertical farming consultancy Agritecture and partners CEAg World and Meister Media Worldwide.
This year, the census focuses on tech adoption in the CEA industry, and found that across regions, energy efficiency is a top priority in determining which technologies are integrated into farming operations.
While it varies between farm types, and from one operation to the next, energy usage has long been a challenge for the indoor farming industry. A handful of high-profile companies have already integrated technologies such as solar into their farms. The CEA Census authors expect this number to grow in the future as more and more growers “are seeking technologies that “reduce operational costs and support sustainability efforts.”
CEA is also a difficult business in which to break even, let alone profit, so cost cutting plays a role here, too: “Trimming this expense category will help ensure future success,” notes the report.
CEA energy usage in 2025
The majority of respondents to the survey are not currently using renewable energy tech in their operations but are considering doing so in the future. Others are purchasing green energy and/or offsets which, according to the report’s authors, showcases “a growing awareness of environmental impact.”
For those growers that do use renewable energy, solar is far and away the most common type, and most widely adopted in Asia and North America. In Asia, 45% of respondents reported using solar power, while in North America, 25% have adopted solar energy.
“This aligns with the growing interest in agrivoltaics, a practice that integrates solar panels with agricultural production, allowing dual use of land for both energy and crop cultivation,” notes the report. “Agrivoltaics is gaining traction due to its ability to improve energy efficiency while providing additional revenue streams for farms, especially in regions with abundant sunlight.”
A smaller percentage of growers surveyed has adopted geothermal energy, while a minority group is also exploring options beyond geothermal or solar such as hydropower.
Nonetheless, a “significant portion” of respondents indicated they are still using traditional energy sources in their operations, and the industry as a whole is very much still in the early stages of the energy transition.
Challenges to the energy transition
The good news is that the majority of growers at least recognize the importance of integrating renewable energy into their operations.
According to the report, “A significant portion of growers see renewable energy as crucial for their long-term operational and sustainability goals. They recognize the potential to reduce energy costs and environmental impact while aligning with advanced technology systems like IoT and automation.”
The high cost of implementing renewable energy technologies is likely the biggest barrier for growers, who highlighted affordability in general as hampering their tech adoption. Some farms are also limited in terms of what their current infrastructure can support — and work seamlessly with — in terms of IoT, AI and robotics. The prospect of significantly upgrading infrastructure lands growers back at the number one challenge for CEA in 2023, cost and affordability.
“The 2024 Global CEA Census isn’t just a report—it’s a call to action,” Agritecture founder and CEO Henry Gordon Smith wrote on LinkedIn this week. “For farmers, it’s an opportunity to benchmark their operations and uncover new ways to grow smarter. For suppliers, it’s a roadmap for innovation to meet the evolving demands of the industry. And for policymakers, it’s a tool to understand how to best support a sector that is critical to the future of food production.”
Where do CEA growers most need technology?
First and foremost, indoor growers want technology that can assist with climate control, which impacts environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, CO2 levels and airflow — all critical factors to maintain when it comes to plant growth.
“Climate control technologies help maintain consistent growing conditions that are tailored to the specific needs of the crops being cultivated,” notes the report. “Maintaining optimal climate conditions directly impacts plant health, growth rates, and yields, making it a key factor in maximizing efficiency.”
Another critical area for technology investment is lighting control, since tailoring LEDs and lighting systems to crop type can minimize energy waste and help reduce costs.
“Many lighting control systems can also be programmed with electricity cost information and the controllers can use that data to not only optimize lighting for the sake of plant growth but also to reduce expenditures on energy.”
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Author Jennifer Marston
