Research partners
Jointly define the research question, experimental programme and data requirements. Relevant expertise includes bioenergy, greenhouse technologies, thermal engineering, predictive control and MRV.
Discuss researchProject restart · Pilot preparation · Kazakhstan
Biogas, smart greenhouses and computing in one system
SolGlow proposes to connect organic waste processing, greenhouse production and leasable computing infrastructure. The pilot aims to test coordinated energy and load management, useful heat recovery and the reliability of measurements.
- Biogas and energy
- Smart greenhouse
- Modular data centre
- Control and measurement
01Overview
Farm resources can work together
Organic waste
Organic waste requires treatment.
Greenhouses
Greenhouses need energy and a controlled growing environment.
Computing infrastructure
Computing infrastructure consumes electricity and releases heat.
SolGlow investigates the conditions under which connecting these processes can create value for a farm.
The configuration depends on available feedstock, seasonal heat demand, electricity supply, water, connectivity and operating conditions. Computing revenue depends on an operator and demonstrated customer demand.
02System
How the components connect
- Electricity
- Heat
- Data(measurements · commands)
- Feedstock, biogas and digestate
The video could not be loaded.Open the MP4 file
Music and voice credits
- Music: “Happy Beats & Business Moves Vol. 12” by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. An adapted excerpt is used: trimmed to the video length, with a fade-in, fade-out and reduced level under the narration.
- Voice: speech synthesis with Kokoro-82M, voice bf_emma, licensed under Apache-2.0.
- Subtitles are part of the picture.
Biogas and energy
Organic feedstock is processed into biogas and digestate. Combined heat and power generation provides electricity and heat. Renewables and backup systems supplement the system as determined by engineering calculations.
Smart greenhouse
Greenhouse production uses available heat and manages its growing environment according to the crop, season and product requirements.
Modular data centre
A computing module provides infrastructure for AI and other server workloads through a tenant or operator. Some available server heat may be transferred to the greenhouse heating circuit.
Control and measurement
Forecasts of feedstock, weather, greenhouse demand and permitted computing flexibility inform coordinated operation. Measurements support monitoring, reporting and verification — MRV.
The diagram as text
Components
- Organic feedstock
- Biogas processing
- Anaerobic digestion
- Digestate
- By-product
- Combined heat and power
- Electricity and heat
- Renewables and backup
- Selected by calculation
- Power distribution
- Smart greenhouse
- Backup heating
- Modular data centre
- Independent cooling
- Heat exchange
- Available share of server heat
- Control and MRV
- Predictive control · monitoring, reporting and verification
Connections
- Organic feedstock → Biogas processing· Feedstock, biogas and digestateOrganic feedstock enters anaerobic biogas processing.
- Biogas processing → Combined heat and power· Feedstock, biogas and digestateBiogas feeds combined heat and power generation.
- Biogas processing → Digestate· Feedstock, biogas and digestateDigestate leaves the process as a separate by-product; its use is assessed against its composition and applicable requirements.
- Combined heat and power → Power distribution· ElectricityCombined heat and power generation provides electricity for distribution within the facility.
- Renewables and backup → Power distribution· ElectricityRenewables and backup supplement the power supply as determined by calculation.
- Power distribution → Smart greenhouse· ElectricityElectricity supplies greenhouse equipment.
- Power distribution → Modular data centre· ElectricityElectricity supplies the computing module.
- Combined heat and power → Smart greenhouse· HeatSome heat from combined heat and power generation may be transferred to the greenhouse heating circuit.
- Modular data centre → Heat exchange· HeatSome available server heat may pass to heat exchange, depending on seasonal greenhouse demand; the data centre retains independent cooling.
- Heat exchange → Smart greenhouse· HeatHeat exchange may transfer heat to the greenhouse circuit; temperatures, heat exchangers and a possible heat pump are selected by calculation.
- Smart greenhouse → Control and MRV· MeasurementsGreenhouse measurements reach the control and MRV layer.
- Modular data centre → Control and MRV· MeasurementsComputing module measurements reach the control and MRV layer.
- Power distribution → Control and MRV· MeasurementsPower supply measurements reach the control and MRV layer.
- Biogas processing → Control and MRV· MeasurementsProposed input of process data from the biogas unit to monitoring, predictive control and MRV. The measurement set and connection interfaces will be defined during design.
- Combined heat and power → Control and MRV· MeasurementsProposed input of process data from combined heat and power generation to monitoring, predictive control and MRV. The measurement set and connection interfaces will be defined during design.
- Control and MRV → Smart greenhouse· CommandsPredictive control commands coordinate greenhouse operation within permitted limits.
- Control and MRV → Modular data centre· CommandsPredictive control commands change computing workloads only within limits agreed with the operator and customer.
- Control and MRV → Power distribution· CommandsPredictive control commands coordinate power supply operation within permitted limits.
03Research
What the pilot will test
The research task is to develop and experimentally test coordinated predictive control. The proposed comparison covers independent component control, coordinated rule-based control and predictive control on the same equipment.
Control strategies under comparison
- 01Independent component control
- 02Coordinated rule-based control
- 03Predictive control
Work areas
- Hourly material and energy balances.
- Heat recovery and useful heat demand across seasons.
- Predictive control within equipment and computing service constraints.
- Primary data quality and reproducible MRV calculations.
Measurement areas
- Unit costs
- Useful heat
- Energy consumption
- Marketable crop yield
- Computing service quality
- Data completeness
Numerical targets will follow preliminary calculations. The research programme should establish the size of the effect and the conditions that make integration worthwhile.
04Potential revenue
Several potential revenue streams
Greenhouse produce
Agricultural sales depend on demonstrated production volumes, quality and demand.
Computing infrastructure
Leasing a module or computing capacity under an agreed operator model. Hosting conditions, maintenance and utilisation form part of the economic assessment.
By-products and energy
Digestate and energy use or sales will be assessed against product properties, applicable requirements and local conditions.
Climate pathway
Preparing MRV data for potential independent verification of emission reductions. Carbon credit eligibility and preparation costs require a separate assessment.
Pilot economics will be calculated for the selected site and equipment. A validated return model is not yet available.
05Pilot
From site data to a measurable pilot
Current foundation
The project initiator previously organised SolGlow launch and testing in Semey and worked with universities and a technology cluster. A new phase of cooperation is now being formed. A potential site in the Semey region is under consideration.
Step 1
Site data
Assess feedstock, water, electrical capacity, connectivity, heat demand and equipment hosting conditions.
Step 2
Research and engineering
Agree resource modelling, demonstrator scope, test methods, intellectual property arrangements and budget.
Step 3
Demonstrator
Assemble a measurable configuration and test the interaction of its components. Scale depends on resources and research tasks.
Step 4
Testing and replication
Compare operating strategies, assess seasonality and develop configuration guidance for other farms.
The site, research team, data centre operator and funding sources remain to be agreed.
SolGlow founder
Amir Salim
Experience in digital product launches, project management and financial planning
06Collaboration
Discuss your role in the next phase
SolGlow welcomes discussions on building a research and technical team, developing the pilot and preparing joint funding applications. Select a direction to focus the conversation.
The video could not be loaded.Open the MP4 file
Music and voice credits
- Music: “Happy Beats & Business Moves Vol. 12” by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. A shortened excerpt is used.
- Interface sounds: Kenney.
- The video has no narration.
Funders and investors
Discuss preparation and pilot stages, expected outputs and funding arrangements. National, European and other international programmes are being considered. Application and funding eligibility will be checked for each call; an investment model requires further calculation.
Discuss fundingTechnical partners
Discuss biogas and energy engineering, heat recovery, the server module, automation and secure measurement collection.
Discuss technical participationFarms and operators
Assess site suitability and the operating model. The computing module requires demonstrated demand, hosting conditions and service quality.
Discuss the site and operations07Questions
Questions and answers
Is the integrated facility already operating?
The project is restarting and preparing a new pilot. This page describes the proposed architecture and research programme.
Does every farm need a data centre?
The configuration depends on site resources and economics. A data centre requires demonstrated demand, connectivity, power, cooling and maintenance. The pilot economics must account for energy costs and actual demand for computing. Load created solely to generate heat cannot be treated as a free heat source.
Does green energy automatically generate carbon credits?
Credit issuance depends on the methodology, additionality, project boundaries, rights and independent verification. MRV helps prepare the supporting evidence.
Can organisations from other countries participate?
International research and technical collaboration is being considered. Eligibility for a specific funding programme and consortium requirements will be checked against its terms.
08Contact
Start with a working discussion
Tell us which direction interests you, what expertise or resources you can offer and what information you need to assess collaboration.