Vlinderhoeve: high-tech orchid cultivation with maximum control over light and energy

In Altena (NL), Butterfly is working on a new standard in greenhouse horticulture. For the Vlinderhoeve project, an innovative greenhouse for cultivating Phalaenopsis (orchids), Oreon is supplying water-cooled Monarch 3-Channel LED fixtures. With this, the grower is building on a successful partnership that began in 2021.

Butterfly began cultivating orchids under water-cooled LED lighting in 2021. That choice proved decisive, not only because of the light quality, but especially due to the ability to actively manage and reuse heat. “In the propagation phase, greenhouse temperatures are around 29°C (84°F),” explains Peter Barentsen of Oreon. “With water-cooled fixtures, you remove heat from the lamps and can reuse it through a heat exchanger.” This residual heat is utilized within the company and even beyond: Vlinderhoeve supplies heat to a nearby municipal swimming pool: a clear example of circular energy use.

Smart energy use

The switch to LED delivers significant immediate savings. In practice, Butterfly sees energy savings of around 40%. At the same time, the approach to lighting changes. Because LED systems can be switched on and off flexibly, the grower can respond strategically to energy prices and plant growth cycles. For example, more lighting is used when energy costs are lower. The result is not only reduced consumption, but also lower overall costs.

Steering light quality

The Monarch 3-Channel fixtures at Vlinderhoeve feature three independently controllable light channels. This makes it possible to continuously adjust the spectrum to match changing conditions. Where a fixed mix of red, blue, and white light was used in the past, the system can now be fine-tuned dynamically, for example, by adding extra red light on cloudy days or introducing far-red light to trigger specific plant growth responses.

Control is largely automated through the climate computer, which combines data from light sensors with the grower’s settings. The result is a precise approximation of natural conditions, fully controllable and optimized for plant development.

Innovation in cultivation

What truly sets Vlinderhoeve apart is its cultivation system. Orchids are grown on two layers, with benches that move automatically through the greenhouse. This has a direct impact on lighting. When there is no bench on the upper level, sunlight can reach the lower layer. When a bench is present, artificial lighting must compensate. In collaboration with partners, a system has been developed that determines exactly where and when light is needed. The result is a hybrid growing approach, partly using natural sunlight and partly relying on fully controlled LED lighting.

Fast return on investment

Water-cooled systems maintain LEDs at an optimal operating temperature. This results in high efficiency and a long lifespan. It also gives the grower much greater flexibility in their lighting strategy. Even with all the screens closed, Vlinderhoeve can continue lighting without issues. In addition, the energy from the lamps that isn’t converted into light is reused in the warmer sections of the greenhouse. This makes the water-cooled system at Vlinderhoeve doubly attractive, and ensures a rapid return on investment.

Staying ahead

Seventeen years ago, Oreon was a pioneer in LED lighting. Today, the market is fully convinced of its benefits. Oreon continues to stand out through innovation, quality, and reliability. “We’re the only supplier with the same fixtures still operating in a greenhouse after more than 12 years,” says Barentsen. “That proves the quality of our lighting.” 

Where energy savings were once the primary reason to switch to LED, much more is involved today. Flexibility, dimming, communication, and integration with other greenhouse systems are now just as important as efficiency.

According to Barentsen, the company still distinguishes itself through quality and reliability. Customers who choose water-cooled systems tend to return to Oreon for future investments in the same technology. “Once you’ve experienced the benefits, you don’t want anything else,” is their consistent experience.

Pioneer

The same applies to Butterfly. This grower is known as a pioneer, willing to experiment and invest in new concepts. Vlinderhoeve is a clear example: a project in which lighting, energy, logistics, and cultivation strategy have been designed as one integrated system.

As Barentsen puts it, “This is a project the sector can be proud of, one that shows where greenhouse horticulture is heading.”