High energy costs and sustainability goals are among the major challenges faced by the agricultural sector. One of the innovative solutions developed in recent years to combat these challenges is agrivoltaic systems. Agrivoltaics provide the energy required for agricultural production through solar panels, thereby reducing energy costs and increasing the efficiency of agricultural production.
What is Agrivoltaics and How Does It Work?
Agrivoltaic systems are special structures that generate electricity using solar panels placed on the top or around greenhouses. In these systems, the solar panels convert a portion of incoming sunlight into electrical energy, while the remaining light is transmitted into the greenhouse to meet the photosynthetic needs of plants. This technology is equipped with panels that can be precisely adjusted not only to use energy efficiently but also to optimize the growth conditions of plants.
Advantages of Agrivoltaic Systems
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Energy Savings and Cost Reduction:The primary advantage of agrivoltaic systems is their ability to directly meet the energy needs of greenhouses and reduce electricity costs. By reducing dependence on conventional energy sources, they lower operational costs and increase long-term economic sustainability. Especially today, when energy prices are constantly rising, these systems provide a financial advantage for greenhouse enterprises.
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Productivity Increase and Quality Improvement: In greenhouses integrated with agrivoltaic systems, ideal light conditions required by plants can be created. Through the position and technology of the panels, the spectrum of light needed for photosynthesis is optimized. This accelerates plant development and can increase yield by up to 20%. Additional benefits include greater resistance of plants to stress conditions and improved product quality.
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Environmental Sustainability and Carbon Footprint Reduction: Agrivoltaic systems significantly reduce the negative environmental impacts of greenhouse operations through the use of renewable energy. By decreasing fossil fuel consumption, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the carbon footprint. Thus, they help enterprises achieve their sustainable agriculture goals and fulfill their environmental responsibilities.
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Land Use and Space Efficiency: One of the most important advantages of agrivoltaic systems is that they eliminate the need for additional land by integrating into existing greenhouse structures. Panels mounted on the roofs or other suitable surfaces of greenhouses optimize land use and maximize the production capacity of greenhouses.
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Energy Independence and Reliability: Agrivoltaic systems reduce the external dependence of greenhouse operations on energy supply. Thus, the risk of being affected by power outages or price fluctuations is minimized. Enterprises become more independent in energy production and can carry out their operations in a more stable and reliable manner.
Agricultural Applications of Agrivoltaic Technology
Agrivoltaic technology stands out as an innovative energy solution that plays an important role especially in modern agricultural practices. The application areas of this technology in agricultural production are quite broad and diverse. The main applications and advantages include:
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Vegetable Production and Productivity Increase: Vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and eggplants, which are commonly grown in greenhouses, gain significant advantages from the use of agrivoltaic technologies. Thanks to the controlled shading feature of the panels, stress conditions caused by excessive sunlight are reduced, photosynthesis efficiency and product quality are increased. For example, in tomato greenhouses using agrivoltaic systems, energy costs are reduced while yields increase by 15–20%.
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Quality and Yield Improvements in Fruit Production: The use of agrivoltaic systems in the cultivation of fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries significantly increases product quality and harvest yield. Especially through controlled shading, sunburn in fruits is prevented, homogeneous growth is ensured, and harvesting periods are extended, thereby increasing the annual total production. Scientific studies have shown that agrivoltaic applications can increase strawberry yields by 10–25%.
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Applications in the Production of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Another important application area of agrivoltaic systems is medicinal and aromatic plants with high economic value. In the production of plants such as sage, lavender, and thyme, it is possible to increase the essential oil and active ingredient content of plants through the precise shading systems of solar panels. Thus, the economic value and market prices of the plants rise, offering producers higher income opportunities.
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Controlled Environment Agriculture and Smart Greenhousing: Agrivoltaic systems, when used in conjunction with smart agriculture practices and IoT technologies, enable continuous monitoring and management of environmental conditions. In this way, water and energy consumption of plants is optimized, and risks of diseases and pests are minimized, allowing for sustainable agricultural practices. In many modern greenhouses in Italy and the Netherlands, these integrated systems maximize energy savings and productivity.
These application examples clearly demonstrate the significant advantages that agrivoltaic technology provides in achieving efficiency and sustainability goals in the agricultural sector. Agrivoltaic investments not only increase the competitiveness of agricultural producers but also provide long-term economic and environmental benefits by ensuring energy independence.
Agrivoltaic Applications and Potential in Türkiye
Türkiye stands out as a country with high solar energy potential due to its geographical location. With this feature, it is among the ideal countries for the implementation of agrivoltaic systems. The application areas and potential of agrivoltaic technology in our country are detailed below:
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Regional Potential and Investment Opportunities: Greenhouse activities in Türkiye are mainly concentrated in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions. Cities such as Antalya, Mersin, Muğla, and İzmir have high levels of solar radiation, and the efficiency level of agrivoltaic applications is quite high in these areas. Especially in and around Antalya, where the annual sunshine duration exceeds an average of 300 days, the return on agrivoltaic investments is accelerated and cost efficiency increases.
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Current Applications and Success Stories: There are various pilot projects related to agrivoltaic applications, which are still developing in Türkiye. Especially in projects supported by agricultural development aids and promoted by the government, agrivoltaic systems are successfully applied in some modern greenhouses in Mersin and Antalya. In these projects, energy costs were reduced by approximately 30–40%, and plant yield increased by 15–25%.
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Government Incentives and Financial Supports: There are many government incentives in Türkiye that promote the use of renewable energy sources. Incentives provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution (TKDK) help make agrivoltaic investments more attractive. Additionally, KOSGEB and various financial institutions provide special loans and grants for greenhouse owners, facilitating the widespread adoption of agrivoltaic technologies.
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Future Potential and Sectoral Expectations: Considering Türkiye’s increasing energy demand and sustainable agricultural policies, the use of agrivoltaic systems is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. In particular, the interest of large-scale greenhouse enterprises and agricultural cooperatives in agrivoltaic investments is increasing. This will play a critical role in helping Türkiye achieve its energy efficiency and environmental sustainability goals.
Türkiye has great potential for the use of agrivoltaic systems, and investments in this field will provide significant economic and environmental benefits to our country. With policies and incentives that support the sustainable growth of the sector, agrivoltaic applications are expected to become even more widespread in the near future.
Conclusion
Agrivoltaic systems stand out as innovative solutions that achieve both energy and sustainability goals in agricultural production. With their potential to reduce energy costs, increase crop productivity, and deliver environmental benefits, agrivoltaic technology offers a more sustainable agricultural model for future generations. In countries with high solar potential such as Türkiye, increasing investments in agrivoltaics will greatly contribute to the sustainable development of the agricultural sector.
References:
- Barron-Gafford, G. A., et al. (2019). Agrivoltaics provide mutual benefits across the food–energy–water nexus in drylands. Nature Sustainability.
- Marrou, H., et al. (2013). Microclimate under agrivoltaic systems: is crop growth rate affected in the partial shade of solar panels? Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. “Energy Use in Greenhouses and the Importance of Agrivoltaic Systems” Report.
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (2023). Renewable Energy Sources and Incentives. Ankara.
- Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution (TKDK) (2023). Financial Support Guide for Greenhousing and Renewable Energy Investments. Ankara.
- KOSGEB (2023). Credit and Support Programs for the Agricultural Sector. Ankara.
