Track B · Ilua Sunyard

A protected growing landscape for Arctic agriculture.

Ilua Sunyard uses terrain, wind protection, thermal mass, solar gain, soil and water to improve the growing environment around the greenhouse.

The purpose is to extend and stabilise outdoor growing conditions so the whole operating model becomes more realistic.

Help fund first implementation

Ilua Sunyard passive microclimate visualisation — Ilua Sunyard concept visualisation: a protected growing landscape developed as the first Narsarsuaq implementation of the landscape-based microclimate system.

The mechanism

Thermal mass, wind protection, solar gain.

The dark inner wall of the berm (dark earth or crushed stone — high thermal mass, low cost) absorbs solar energy during the day and releases it gradually as long-wave radiation after sunset — when plants are most exposed to frost. The geometry also reduces wind exposure; the current CFD model indicates wind reduction of at least 50%.

Individual elements — windbreaks, sun-traps, fruit walls and earth-sheltered gardens — are well known. Ilua Sunyard brings them into one landscape-based microclimate system for Arctic and sub-Arctic cultivation.

The first Narsarsuaq implementation is developed openly, so others can inspect the geometry, compare it with measured site learning and improve it if the data supports it.

At 61°N this is essential, not optional. The difference between plant survival and frost death is 1–2 degrees.

Ilua system overview showing greenhouse, microclimate and light-and-energy systems together — System overview: greenhouse, Sunyard microclimate and light-and-energy systems developed as one connected production model.

Expected effect

Decision basis for the first buildable Sunyard layout.

Thermal model v4.0 — internal model reviewed for Phase 1 decision use; measured site learning follows in Narsarsuaq.

~2°CAnnual mean temperature gain in the near-wall zone

~15°CMaximum gain above ambient (best days)

+27 daysExtra growing days per season

+296 GDDGrowing degree days, base 5°C

≥50%Wind reduction (CFD-modelled)

Status

Where the work stands.

Concept lockedThermal model v4.0 completeMeasured site learning

Ilua Sunyard concept board with plan, section and microclimate principles — Ilua Sunyard concept board: geometry, shelter and microclimate principles for the protected growing environment.

What Phase 1 must decide

Which microclimate measures create enough value to build
Which berm/wall/thermal-mass assumptions survive site testing
Which crops benefit from protected outdoor conditions
How the Sunyard integrates with the greenhouse and crop programme

Concept phase complete · parametric study V29 selected as final design (April 2026). Thermal model v4.0 is complete and reviewed for Phase 1 decision use. Phase 1 turns the model into a decision basis for the first buildable Sunyard layout.

Help fund the first Sunyard implementation

From model to buildable layout.

Phase 1 covers detail design, preparation and the first measurements that turn the model into a practical decision basis for Narsarsuaq.

Help fund first implementation