Exergy21 Signs Supply Contract for 'Smart Farm' in Iksan, Jeonbuk

Nulpum Smart Farm view. / Photo by Exergy21

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Kosdaq-listed company Exergy21 announced on the 22nd that it has signed a contract to install the air-source heat pump heating and cooling system ‘Exergy21’ with Neulpum, which operates smart farms in Jeollabuk-do.

Neulpum is an agricultural corporation operating large-scale smart farms in Gimje and Iksan, and ‘Exergy21’ is scheduled to be installed at a smart farm of approximately 6,000 pyeong located in Iksan.

Exergy21’s air-source heat pump heating and cooling system ‘Exergy21’ is an economical and eco-friendly heating and cooling facility that uses nighttime electricity instead of fossil fuels, achieving 54?85% energy savings compared to existing facilities.

Through this, Exergy21 has been targeting the nationwide smart farm market for mushroom, herb, and paprika cultivation in Yongin, Gwangju, Busan, Gimje, and other locations since last year. The installation at Neulpum’s Iksan smart farm is the second installation following the Gimje smart farm in August.

Smart farms are intelligent farms that integrate Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as big data, IoT (Internet of Things), and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to remotely and automatically control the growth environment. Korea has experienced stagnation in agriculture due to a decrease in farming population and aging over the past several years, but smart farms based on IT technology are gaining attention as a solution to these rural problems. Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is working to foster a young and middle-aged farming population and enhance the competitiveness of Korean agriculture by establishing smart farm innovation valleys in Sangju, Gimje, Miryang, Goheung, and other areas.

Lee Yongheung, CEO of Exergy21, stated, “Since most vegetable production facilities nationwide use fossil fuels, it is the optimal market to introduce Exergy21, which is eco-friendly and capable of reducing heating and cooling costs.” He added, “Especially in the domestic smart farm market, which is expected to grow by more than 5% annually and reach about 6 trillion won this year, Exergy21 will lead the smart farm heating and cooling system market with the best energy efficiency and economic feasibility.”