Libra Design Expands Horticulture Lighting Options with LED Systems Optimized for Digital Electricity™
Starting at $0.16/PPF, collaboration with VoltServer™ further removes cost barriers to CEA with a new era of safe, reliable, and intelligent lighting solutions for indoor and greenhouse farms
AUSTIN, TEXAS, Nov. 08, 2022 – Libra Design, LLC (Libra) today announced its collaboration with VoltServer to optimize horticulture lighting solutions for Digital Electricity™, starting with the Libra Mid-Flux (MF) and High-Flux (HF) LED Modules for controlled environment agriculture (CEA). By combining lighting solutions from Libra with a fault-managed power distribution platform from VoltServer, vertical farm and greenhouse companies can build, operate, and manage their gardens efficiently, safely, intelligently, and ultimately with a lower lighting cost compared to conventional AC-powered lighting fixtures.
“At its core, our collaboration with VoltServer reflects Libra Design’s mission to advance CEA by removing the cost barrier to building and operating a profitable, efficient and highly productive indoor and greenhouse farm,” said Travis Williams, Co-Founder & CEO, Libra Design. “Libra LED solutions powered by Digital Electricity create an optimal growing environment with the safety, reliability, control and ease of installation necessary to succeed in today’s commercial agriculture industry.”
According to VoltServer, Digital Electricity reduces the cost of distributing power and control to horticulture lighting systems by 20% to 40%, while improving safety, energy management, and control density. Digital Electricity is listed to UL/IEC 62368-1 as a Limited Power Source developed with safety at the forefront based on a patented Packet Energy Transfer protocol. The protocol distributes power via discrete energy packets with 500 safety checks per second. By preventing the safety hazards associated with conventional AC/DC electricity, such as electric shock and fire, Digital Electricity can be installed with un-certified labor using the same wiring practices as Ethernet including flexible cable and wire trays while omitting conduit, circuit breakers and other costly and time-consuming infrastructure.
“Digital technology continues to proliferate every aspect of society, yet we still rely on antiquated power distribution platforms which waste time, energy and money. These are precious resources we cannot afford to waste, especially when it comes to agriculture,” said James Eaves, Ph.D., Director of Indoor Agriculture, VoltServer. “With a Libra Design lighting solution powered by Digital Electricity, growers can save millions of dollars in capital expenses and months of construction time while simultaneously making their facility safer, smarter and uniquely suited for their needs.”
Libra worked closely with VoltServer to develop horticulture lighting systems specifically optimized for Digital Electricity. The result is a driverless LED system capable of delivering optimal light intensity and uniformity while being powered remotely by the VoltServer ETX8 transmitter. Lighting control is also delivered via the platform, providing growers and operators the insight and control needed to manage and monitor their lighting systems and power usage without the requirement of additional control cables or systems. With a remote power system, growers also reduce the heat load inside the growing environment and save precious space resulting in increased canopy density and airflow in vertical farms and reduced shading in greenhouses.
Libra horticulture lighting solutions powered by Digital Electricity start at $0.16/PPF with a 1,000-unit minimum order quantity (MOQ). All Libra systems have a photosynthetic photon efficacy (PPE) of 2.7 μmol/J or greater and are customized based on the unique cultivation, operations, and business goals of each client.
Two Digital Electricity-powered lighting systems based on the Libra MF and HF LED Modules will be on display October 16-18, 2022 in the Montel booth (#3437) at MJBizCon in Las Vegas.
Libra Design LED Reference Systems Overview¹²
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LED Module: Libra Mid-Flux
PPF: 1,700 µmol/s
PPE: 2.88 µmol/J
Power: 590W DC
Spectrum: Broad
Cost: $290.00 USD
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LED Module: Libra High-Flux
PPF: 1,725 µmol/s
PPE: 2.95 µmol/J
Power: 585W DC
Spectrum: Broad
Cost: $280.00 USD
Additional Key Benefits
Developed exclusively by Libra Design
100 percent metal construction using anodized aluminum and stainless steel
Passive cooling via patent-pending natural convection thermal management
Certified to the latest UL 8800 standard for horticulture lighting equipment and systems with an IP66, wet-locating rating
±5% performance guarantee coupled with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty
Thin form-factors: less than one inch thin for increased crop density and airflow in vertical farming, and only three inches wide for reduced shading in greenhouse facilities
Supporting Resources
Learn more about Libra MF and HF LED systems
Learn more about Digital Electricity for agriculture
About Libra Design
Libra Design is a boutique agtech engineering services firm specialized in horticulture lighting. The firm takes a client-centric approach to developing unique LED solutions that simultaneously help commercial farmers achieve their goals while advancing the entire CEA industry. Libra is a proud business member of 1% For The Planet were a portion of every sale goes to addressing our planet’s most pressing issues from deforestation and the climate crisis to food waste and food insecurity.
About VoltServer
VoltServer is a venture-backed technology leader reinventing how electrical energy is distributed. VoltServer's patented Digital Electricity™ solutions deliver safe electricity where, when, and how it is needed. Digital Electricity™ can be delivered using off-the-shelf data cable, at a significantly reduced cost, and with greater speed, power, distance, efficiency, intelligence, and flexibility, when compared to competing electrical installations.
¹Performance estimates based on DC input to Libra LED system; do not include VoltServer power distribution or equipment efficiency losses.
²Cost estimates for Libra LED System with 1,000-unit MOQ (shipping and VoltServer equipment not included).
Contact:
Libra Communications
+1 (737) 471-2746
hello@libradesign.org
VoltServer Communications
+1 (888) 622-8658
contact@voltserver.com
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