Two Dutch cucumber growers are expanding their use of LED lighting as they look for more stable year-round production, better labour planning and tighter control over energy use.
Signify announced on September 8 that Kwekerij Bolleboom in Bleiswijk and Kwekerij Bazuin in Pijnacker are investing in Philips GreenPower LED toplighting force elite and Philips GrowWise control.
Bolleboom replaces remaining HPS lighting
Bolleboom operates two 3.5-hectare cucumber blocks. After two years of experience with LED, the grower has decided to replace the HPS lighting in the remaining area with LED at 200 µmol. Stolze is carrying out the project.
The objective is to spread production more evenly through the year while keeping electrical capacity under control and reducing the production and labour peaks associated with more variable winter growing conditions.
Bazuin doubles area and moves to a lit crop
Kwekerij Bazuin has demolished its old greenhouse and acquired neighbouring land, doubling its growing area to 2.8 hectares. The new greenhouse moves the business from an unlit high-wire crop to LED lighting, with Hortipar involved in the installation.
Bazuin expects its CHP system to provide roughly 70% of the electricity required, with the remainder purchased from the grid. GrowWise control is also being connected to the grower’s Priva climate computer.
Why it matters
The projects show how lighting investments are increasingly being justified as production-control tools rather than simply as a way to add winter light. More predictable crop output can affect labour scheduling, supply commitments and energy purchasing at the same time.
What remains unclear
Neither project announcement includes total capital expenditure, full commissioning dates or verified payback periods.
Key takeaways
- Bolleboom is replacing remaining HPS lighting across its cucumber operation.
- Bazuin is doubling to 2.8 hectares and moving from unlit high-wire production to LED.
- Both projects combine lighting hardware with digital control to improve production predictability.
