Canterbury-based fruit grower and mixed farm AC Hulme & Sons is working with partners including London-based energy technology firm GridDuck and artificial intelligence (AI) specialist Stemy Energy to integrate AI and technology in long term apple storage to reduce energy use and improve fruit quality.
The initiative, which is part of the first round of Growing Kent and Medway’s Business Sustainability Challenge, will explore energy-efficient storage solutions for Gala apples across four different units. British Apples and Pears Ltd (BAPL) is supporting the project by conducting surveys to understand current energy reduction strategies among apple growers. The insights gained from these surveys are expected to guide further research and innovation in the sector.
The project at AC Hulme also includes five academic and industry partners, including the University of Greenwich and Avalon Fresh, hopes to provide a better understanding of how and where the energy is used within the storage process. The project is looking at different elements, like the cooling fans, defrosting, CO2 scrubbers (equipment which absorbs carbon dioxide), and nitrogen generators.
The total project costs £99,308, supported by a Growing Kent & Medway grant of £49,654.