Sustainable greenhouse business in Kyrgyz Republic

LLC Greenline, with its 14,000m² of greenhouses, provides fresh vegetables to the Kyrgyz market, even during winter. Greenhouses need large amounts of energy for heating, ventilation and lighting. Maintaining a constant temperature under the thin glass leads to high heat loses and therefore expenses. Hence, growing fresh vegetables in tough Kyrgyz winters is an energy intensive business.

The company applied for KyrSEFF financing for thermal insulation of its greenhouses and administrative buildings.

The project included installation of double layered thermal screens on the glass surface, mounted on the roof and closed during the night to reduce heat losses, as well as thermal insulation of administrative buildings.

The $1.5 million investment, where the KyrSEFF loan made up $300,000, allowed the greenhouses to be operated more efficiently and produce fresh vegetables at a competitively low price, decreasing the need to import vegetables from abroad during the winter months.

The investment generated a 62 per cent reduction in energy consumption, which is a lasting benefit. In addition, the company reduced its carbon emissions by 900 tonnes per year, contributing to an improved environment.

This investment demonstrates that energy intensive businesses can still be competitive and profitable while operating under unfavourable natural conditions and bring highly demanded products to the local community.

This project was supported by the Investment Facility for Central Asia (IFCA) of the European Union (EU).