30 percent of the greenhouses in the Region use the technology of a thermal screen to regulate the climate and improve the quality of crops. It is a system made up of a fabric with aluminum and polyester strips, manufactured by a Torre Pacheco company, and which could achieve that the more than 3,000 greenhouses in the Region can save up to 65 percent of energy.
The Minister of Water, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Miguel Ángel del Amor, visited today the company Agrocomponentes to know the operation of the weaving machine that manufactures this thermal screen of aluminum, a unique system in Spain that is not developed nor in Portugal , not even in Italy.
Del Amor pointed out that «the Region is consolidated as the agricultural ‘Silicon Valley’, housing more and more companies dedicated to technology associated with our agriculture with water projects, plant improvement and climate control.»
He also reported that «this screen prevents condensation as it is a stable, easy-to-install screen that gives shade to horticultural crops and flowers.»
The shade you can reach ranges from 45 to 75 percent. The screen can be opened, without polyester sheets, for more ventilation of the greenhouse or closed, with polyester sheets, for greater energy savings in cold places and heating is needed.
The counselor stressed that «thanks to this screen the condensation of the greenhouse decreases and helps reduce the use of phytosanitary products and the index of diseases such as the fungus Botrytis».