Cultivation solutions for medicinal cannabis
Pharma-grade quality, documented purity, reproducible climate. CarbonActive supplies GMP-compliant indoor facilities with HEPA filter cascade, pressure cascades between cleanroom zones and four-pipe air conditioning technology - for validatable pharmaceutical output.
How many patients per IGC?
Before we talk about GMP cleanroom technology - the most important figure first: how many patients you can supply reliably and in pharmaceutical quality with a single Indoor Growing Compartment .
at 25 g / month
at 25 g / month
at 25 g / month
at 25 g / month
From the recipe to your own facility
The German market for medicinal cannabis is growing exponentially - and the supply gap between prescriptions and pharma-grade production is large. Those who build now will secure pharmacy supply contracts.
MEDICINAL CANNABIS as medicine
Prescription capability introduced - start of the German pharmaceutical cannabis market
BtM deletion
Cannabis out of the BtMVV - simplified prescription, explosive growth in demand
Supply gap
Import dependency as a risk - pharmacies are looking for reliable EU GMP suppliers
Secure market share
GMP-compliant local production displaces imports and secures long-lasting pharmacy contracts
Indoor Growing Compartments
GMP compliance requires reproducible conditions. The IGC is CarbonActive's answer to this: a pre-configured cultivation room's with the same yield in two climate variants - you choose whether or not you need daytime operation, even in midsummer .
IGC Basic
Seasonally optimal- Energy recovery for passive cooling & dehumidification
- Optimum climate for approx. 70 % of the year without aids
- In midsummer: light phase at night, dark phase during the day
- Integrated active CO₂ fumigation
- 4 walls, lateral ventilation, height-adjustable lighting
- 36 m² net cultivation area (50-60 m² gross)
- Upgrade to Professional possible at any time
IGC Professional
Daytime operation all year round- All the basic features plus:
- Industrial climate control system with outdoor climate control unit
- Energy-saving dehumidification through waste heat recovery from cooling
- Light phase also possible during the day all year round
- Low temperature and air humidity - even on humid days
- Ideal for crop steering & rockwool cultivation
Impressions from realized facilities
Insights into built indoor growing compartments - from the air-conditioning technology to the finished cultivation room's.
Custom Facilities
For projects with 4 IGCs or more (144m² net cultivation area), it is worth planning a customized facility with an optimized climate control system.
- Highly efficient, fully integrated air conditioning system
- Lower initial and ongoing costs per m²
- Economies of scale through central components
- Tailor-made for your building characteristics
How the filter cascade works
In a GMP-compliant facility, outside air is not introduced directly - it passes through a multi-stage cleaning cascade. Each variant removes finer particles before the air enters the GMP zone. The result: HEPA filtration at HEPA level, documented and validatable.
From corridor to cleanroom
Filters alone are not enough. A GMP cleanroom also needs a controlled pressure cascade: each zone has a higher pressure than the adjacent, less clean zone - so that air flows out of the cleanroom, never into it. Personnel and material airlocks function as pressure buffers.
Four-variant cascade from corridor to GMP zone - air flows in one direction only.
Filter combination F7 - F9 - H13 - validatable according to EU GMP classes C/D (ISO 7 / ISO 8).
The four-pipe system: constant climate without fluctuations
Pharmaceutical cannabis production requires reproducible conditions - no fluctuations, no drift. Our four-pipe system runs cold and hot water in parallel: while one heat exchanger cools, the next can reheat immediately. This keeps the climate stable within a range of ±0.5 K temperature and ±3 % relative air humidity - second by second.
±0.5 K Tolerance
Constant target value over 24 hours - no fluctuations that could disturb the active ingredient content or trichome formation.
±3 % tolerance
Tightly regulated in the optimal VPD range - moist enough for healthy plants, dry enough against mold and botrytis.
Competitive advantage in Central Europe
What many overlook: Where the IGC is located determines how efficiently it runs. Central Europe's temperate climate is not a disadvantage for our technology - it is its greatest lever.
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8 months optimal conditions
The cool, but not bitterly cold outside temperature in Germany is ideal for passive cooling and dehumidification.
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Summer air humidity below 60%
In contrast to other regions, air humidity remains moderate in the summer - ideal for open and SemiLoop ventilation systems.
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SemiLoop technology
Our hybrid system combines energy-saving climate control with the performance of closed systems.
SemiLoop technology
Harnessing the climate advantage is the real engineering achievement . Three generations of climate control systems lead to our hybrid answer.
Open systems
20 years agoModerate electricity prices, less sensitive genetics, NDL lighting as standard.
CLOSED SYSTEMS
Last 10 yearsDevelopment for higher quality requirements and LED technology.
Hybrid SemiLoop
CarbonActive InnovationCombines energy-saving climate control with dehumidification performance of closed systems.
Electricity savings in comparison
Climate control electricity consumption in Central Europe
How climate control works in the IGC
The diagram shows the complete air treatment process in an IGC realized : First, the Energy Recovery Group heat exchanger passively transfers the energy of the warm return air to the cold outside air. If this is not sufficient, the filter, cooling and reheater take over the active conditioning - until the supply air is exactly at setpoint. In this way, the climate in the cultivation room'S remains stable, with minimal energy consumption.
Energy-saving
Optimized use of outside air with 8 months of optimal conditions
Low fluctuation
Constant climate conditions for maximum yields
PLC-controlled
Precise control systems via sensors, control technology and control cabinet construction
Energy recovery
Up to 80% heat recovery from the exhaust air
Energy Recovery (ERG)
At the heart of every SemiLoop facility is a heat exchanger that recirculates the exhaust air energy. This is where most of the electricity savings are generated in open operation - and the basis for closed operation is laid.
HEAT EXCHANGER principle
More than 80% of the heat energy is transferred to the supply air when the exhaust air is discharged. No additional heating is required when the lighting is switched on.
Passive dehumidification
In cold, dry outside air, the system passively dehumidifies without additional power consumption.
Passive cooling
If the outside air is colder than in the cultivation room's, energy-efficient cooling takes place via the ventilation system.
Active heating
Only when the energy recovery reaches its barriers (e.g. winter when the lights are off) is the system actively reheated.
Energy recovery
80%+Heating without electricity: the hot water tank
The Energy Recovery Group recovers the heat from the exhaust air - what happens to the heat that the active air conditioning system dissipates at the height of summer? With conventional closed systems, it is lost and must be replaced in the dark phase with electric heating coils . Twice the energy for the same cultivation room'S.
In the IGC Professional, we store this waste heat in a hot water tank and use it to reheat the room, when the lighting is switched off. This makes closed operation significantly more energy-efficient - and dehumidification without electrical reheating practical in the first place.
- Waste heat from the climate control system is stored instead of dissipated
- Dehumidification without separate electric heating
- Closed operation as efficient as open systems
Technical components
Energy Recovery Group and hot water tank are just two components. Six components matched to each other turn your warehouse into a cultivation room's ready for production.
AHU - Air Handling Unit
The heart with pre-filter, energy recovery and activated carbon filter for odor-free operation.
- Pre-filter for harmful particles
- Activated carbon filter Odor protection
- Integrated control systems
Lateral ventilation
Optimized ventilation via the sides for even air circulation without direct draughts on the plants.
- 3 variants selectable
- Electrically height-adjustable optional
- Even air circulation
HEAT EXCHANGER
Highly efficient heat transfer between supply and exhaust air for maximum energy savings.
- >80% heat recovery
- Passive dehumidification
- Integrated hot water tank
Control cabinets & BMS
Intelligent building control with modern PLC technology for precise climate control.
- Modern PLC control systems
- Sensors & control technology
- Remote access possible
CO₂ fumigation
Integrated system for active CO₂ supply in the initial weeks during closed operation.
- Integrated in all IGCs
- Humidity maintenance
- Healthy plant growth
Tables & lighting
Optimum use of space with movable benches and electrically height-adjustable lighting mounts.
- 36m² net cultivation area
- 900 or 1300 µmol/m²/s
- Electrically height-adjustable
Lighting configuration
One of the few places where you actively configure: How much light should fall on your plants? There are three light levels to choose from - each with its own climate planning.
850 µmol/m²/s
Lower light intensity with moderate climate requirements. Ideal for beginner projects and cultivation that is gentle on the variety.
1000 µmol/m²/s
Sweet spot between yield and efficiency. Balanced ratio of light intensity and climate effort.
1150 µmol/m²/s
Maximum light intensity for maximum yields. Increased climate requirements - ideal for crop steering professionals.
Standard equipment in every IGC
Room layout: many small vs. few large rooms
With the light intensity, you know how much will grow per square meter - now it's a question of how many rooms will fit in your warehouse. This decision influences risk, flexibility and costs.
| Criterion | Few large rooms | Many small rooms |
|---|---|---|
| Loss risk | Lower | Lower |
| Variety of strains | Limited | High |
| Staff utilization | More difficult | Optimal |
| Response options | Limited | Flexible |
| Cost per m² | Lower | Higher |
| Ideal for areas | From 144m² (4 rooms) | Less than 144m² |
Our recommendation
36m² net cultivation area per room is the sweet spot - lots of small but not too expensive rooms. From 144m² 4 rooms are recommended, from 288m² already 8 rooms.
Profitability & return on investment
You now know the system, the configuration and the rooms - the question remains: What does it cost and when does it pay off?
When will your facility pay for itself?
Medicinal cannabis has two advantages over the consumer market: pharmaceutical-grade margins are higher, and pharmacy supply contracts are long-lasting. In a scenario with 500 patients, 25 g monthly supply and a pharmacy price starting at €8/g, an IGC facility typically pays for itself within 12 months - the GMP requirements for the clean room and filter cascade are already included.
Scenario: 500 patients
With 25 g purchase/month and pharmacy margins
Pharma grade margins
Higher retail prices than consumer cannabis due to GMP certification
Long-lasting contracts
Pharmacy supply instead of spot market - calculable purchase over years
From planning to the first harvest
Once the economic viability has been established, things become concrete: six phases lead from the first meeting to commissioning. With IGC facilities much faster than with custom facilities.
Concept development
Required cultivation area, cultivation method, climate conditions, planning Adjoining rooms
2-6 weeksRough planning
On-site visit incl. measurements, cost estimate, finalization Room layout
2 daysDetailed planning
Preparation of building applications, identification of suppliers, finalization Building planning
2-3 daysManufacturing
Planning delivery deadlines, in-house production, determine final budget
8-12 weeksInstallation
Construction measures, BMS programming, final building acceptance
1 week per IGCCommissioning
Handover to customers, training systems, cleaning & maintenance plan
1 dayIGC facility: Standardized design, less planning effort - if conversion approval is available, the facility can initially be built to variant Basic and later upgraded to Professional.
CUSTOMOM FACILITY: Customized climate planning with fully integrated system - longer planning phases, but lower initial and operational costs per m² from 4 IGCs (144 m²).
GMP ventilation in practice: Pure Pharma
How CarbonActive implemented a GMP-compliant ventilation system for Pure Pharma in Laufenburg - Filter cascades, pressure cascades and reproducible clean room climate for pharmaceutical production. Take a look at the project in detail .
To the reference pageReady for pharma-grade cannabis?
We support you from the cleanroom concept to GMP validation. Let us discuss the right filter cascade, pressure cascade and climate design for your project - free of charge and without obligation.
We are here for you
Together we realize your cultivation project
- Get a thorough overview of our offer
- Pre-estimate budgets for financial plans
- Create liquidity planning
- Create room layout plan
- Evaluate upgrades to existing facilities
- Making regulatory assessments
- Determine cultivation methods
- Check business plans
Book an appointment with our expert Lorenz Minks as soon as possible.
