When selecting greenhouse glass, higher light transmission is often considered better. After all, more sunlight generally means more potential for photosynthesis. But is the glass with the highest transmission always the best investment? "Not necessarily," says Marcel Kahi, Commercial Director at Yuhua Glass. "After years of supplying greenhouse glass to projects across different climates, we've learned that the best glass is not always the one with the highest specifications. It's the one that best matches the crop, the local climate and the greenhouse's overall climate strategy."

Two climates, two different solutions
The contrast between the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia illustrates this particularly well. In the Netherlands, where natural light is limited during much of the year and energy costs are high, maximizing useful daylight is a major consideration for growers.

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Yuhua has supplied anti-reflective diffuse glass with relatively low haze levels for Looye's greenhouse projects in the Netherlands.

"We've seen a growing preference for lower haze levels in Dutch projects, particularly where growers want to maximize light availability," Marcel explains. "With high energy costs, every bit of useful natural light matters. The challenge is finding the right balance between light transmission and diffusion."

Saudi Arabia tells a different story.© Yuhua
For the large-scale NADEC greenhouse project in Saudi Arabia, Yuhua supplied high-haze diffuse glass without anti-reflective coating, a deliberate choice reflecting the region's intense solar radiation and demanding growing conditions.

"In Saudi Arabia, the challenge is often not getting enough sunlight, but managing excessive solar radiation and heat," Marcel explains. "The priority is to distribute light effectively while working with the greenhouse's shading and cooling systems to maintain a suitable growing environment."

Interestingly, this also means that a more expensive glass specification is not necessarily a better investment. "As a glass manufacturer, we could always recommend adding an anti-reflective coating to achieve higher light transmission. But when additional light offers limited practical value, why should the grower pay more for it? For us, the goal isn't to sell the most expensive glass. It's to recommend the glass that makes the most sense for the project."

Glass should work with the climate system, not against it
According to Marcel Kahi, light transmission and haze should never be evaluated in isolation.

A greenhouse in Northern Europe may prioritize capturing as much available daylight as possible, while a greenhouse in the Middle East may place greater emphasis on managing radiation, temperature and crop stress.

"Glass is only one part of the equation. Screens, ventilation, heating, cooling and crop requirements all influence the final decision. You can't optimize one component without considering the others."

Even greenhouses growing the same crop may benefit from different glass specifications depending on their location and climate-control strategy.

More options, fewer compromises
This philosophy has shaped Yuhua's greenhouse glass portfolio. The company offers both clear float glass and diffuse glass, with sol-gel and etched anti-reflective coating technologies. Its portfolio covers light transmission levels from approximately 89% to 99%, with haze options including 0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 70% and 75%.

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"Having such a broad range means we don't have to push customers toward whichever specification happens to be available," Marcel says. "We can start with what the project actually needs."

From the cold climates of Northern Europe to the intense heat of the Middle East, Yuhua continues to develop glass solutions for different crops and growing environments.

"A modern greenhouse is a precisely engineered climate system, and glass is an essential part of it. Our ambition is to offer the right glass for every crop and every climate, rather than asking growers to settle for something that's merely close enough."

"The goal isn't to sell the glass with the highest light transmission. It's to help growers get the most out of their greenhouse."

For more information:
Yuhua Glass
Marcel Kahi
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +86 15238085036
www.yuhua-glass.com