Exergy and environmental sustainability assessment of PV integrated greenhouse cucumber production

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the thermodynamic and environmental performance of cucumber produced under greenhouse conditions in Türkiye with a holistic approach. The analysis, conducted in the provinces of Kırklareli and Konya, calculated cumulative energy consumption (CEnC), cumulative exergy consumption (CExC), and cumulative CO 2 emissions (CCO 2 E), with a functional unit of one ton of product. In addition, two important sustainability indicators, namely Cumulative Degree of Perfection (CDP) and Renewability Indicator (RI), were calculated based on exergy calculations. According to the results, CEnC was 260.16 MJ/ton, CExC was 1459.82 MJ/ton, and CCO 2 E was 31.13 kg/ton in Kırklareli, while these values were determined to be 324.38 MJ/ton, 2521.12 MJ/ton, and 50.91 kg/ton, respectively, in Konya. This difference indicates that irrigation and electricity use increase the energy and exergy intensity in Konya. Exergy based sustainability indicators, CDP and RI values, were calculated as 0.73 and − 0.36 for Kırklareli, and 0.42 and − 1.36 for Konya, respectively. These values reveal the high dependence of current production processes on non-renewable energy sources. When photovoltaic (PV) panels were used to supply electricity, the CDP in Kırklareli increased from 0.73 to 0.77, and the RI improved from − 0.36 to -0.30. In Konya, the CDP value rose to 0.51, and the RI to -0.96. These results suggest that PV integration has the potential to improve renewability indicators, especially in energy intensive regions. The findings indicate that, within the scope of this analysis, the sustainability of greenhouse cucumber production could be enhanced through optimized resource management and PV systems.