NL: New partnership to bring high efficiency boilers to growers

BioTherm has announced a new partnership with RBI Boilers to bring a new generation of high-efficiency, on-demand boiler systems to the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) market.

This advanced boiler line offers capacities up to 10 million BTUs (2930 kWh), making it ideal for greenhouse operations of all sizes. Each system is designed with a cascade strategy in mind, where multiple boilers share the energy load to ensure operational reliability, energy efficiency, and a fail-soft/safe backup in case of unit downtime.

"These aren't just boilers—they're smart systems," said Jim Rearden, President of BioTherm. "By incorporating cascade capabilities and on-demand performance, these units respond exactly when growers need them, without wasting fuel or energy."

The low-mass design of these boilers allows for rapid heat-up and cool-down, operating at lower water temperatures that enhance plant health and compatibility with alternative energy sources such as heat pumps and solar thermal. Additionally, growers can incorporate CO₂ enrichment by capturing boiler exhaust, creating a dual-purpose solution that supports both heating and photosynthesis.

RBI boilers provide a range of features that are ideal for horticultural and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) applications. These features include high-efficiency condensing and non-condensing models, which contribute to energy saving and improved crop performance due to their low-temperature operation. The boilers also offer modulating and cascading capabilities, providing flexibility within the system. They are designed to be compact and space-saving, allowing for easy integration with BioTherm's hydronic heating, irrigation tempering, dehumidification, and CO₂ systems. Additionally, the boilers deliver heat on demand, ensuring that no fuel is wasted in maintaining thermal mass.

BioTherm will be exhibiting at both GreenTech Amsterdam (Booth 01.545) and Cultivate in Columbus, Ohio (Booth 217). The company welcomes the opportunity to answer your questions, explore your heating needs, and show you how our new boiler solutions can elevate your growing environment.