Evaluation of the design of photovoltaic panels for energy required for climate control in greenhouses

Electricity generation from solar energy is achieved through photovoltaic (PV) panels. In recent years, the decline in PV panel costs and the fact that solar energy is a clean source of electricity have significantly increased its adoption. The performance of PV panels is expressed in terms of efficiency, which indicates the proportion of incident solar radiation that can be converted into electricity. However, only specific wavelengths of light can be converted, while a considerable portion is either reflected from the surface or absorbed as heat by the panel material. This phenomenon leads to efficiency losses, particularly in summer months when panel temperatures rise. In greenhouse applications, energy demand varies seasonally. During winter months, heating requirements increase due to high temperature differences between indoor and outdoor conditions, while in summer, cooling loads become more dominant. As a result, seasonal imbalances in the production–consumption relationship emerge: energy deficits are observed in winter, whereas energy surpluses occur during summer. This indicates that system design must simultaneously consider both the energy generation capacity of PV systems and the climatic characteristics of the installation site. Within this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of meeting the year-round climate control energy demand of a tomato greenhouse in Denizli through photovoltaic panels in a sustainable manner. The analysis included calculations of panel installation capacity, potential energy production, and the corresponding greenhouse energy demand. Based on these findings, the balance between production and consumption was assessed. The results provided the conceptual framework of the study and contributed to the evaluation of the technical feasibility of renewable-energy-based greenhouse systems.