Comparison of different cover materials and energy resources in determining greenhouse heat requirements in Kirsehir province of Turkey

Abstract

Creating suitable temperatures for the plants in a greenhouse is possible by heating the greenhouse when temperature is not suitable for plant breeding. In this study, it is aimed to determine different amounts of fuel (natural gas, imported coal, fuel oil and geothermal) to meet the calculated heat requirements of a greenhouse with different cover materials (single-layer polyethylene, double-layer polyethylene, single-layer glass and polycarbonate), their costs and and the amounts of carbon dioxide emissions to be given to the atmosfere by calculating the heat requirements for Kirsehir province when the indoor temperature of the greenhouse is kept at 16 °C and 18 °C. In the study, it has been determined that the need for heat in the greenhouses in Kirsehir province is minimum when double-layer (PE) plastic cover material is used (321.62 kWh/m2 year at ti=16 °C). A change of 2 °C (16/18 °C) in indoor temperature of the greenhouse caused an increase of heat consumption of approximately 15% in the greenhouse. In addition, it has been determined that an economical saving by 81% could be achieved compared to natural gas, by 91% compared to imported coal, by 92.3% compared to fuel oil when available geothermal resources are used for heating purposes instead of fossil fuels in greenhouse cultivationin Kirsehir province. As a result of the study carried out, it has been determined that a more economical and sustainable breeding can be achieved when geothermal energy is preferred for the purpose of heating the greenhouses in Kirsehir province.