Agricultural Solar: Cut Your Farming Energy Costs at the Root
Irrigation and greenhouse heating are among the largest cost lines for farmers in Turkey. Across Antalya province, greenhouse growers, fruit orchards and cut-flower producers pay tens of thousands of lira every month in electricity bills, driven by irrigation pumps, greenhouse climate control and cold storage. An agricultural solar system removes the bulk of these costs while adding lasting value to the farmland itself — turning sunshine into a renewable, predictable input you control.
Agricultural Solar Applications
- Irrigation Pumps: Running three-phase and single-phase pumps directly from solar (off-grid or grid-tied)
- Greenhouse Power & Heating: Lighting, ventilation and heating systems for covered cultivation
- Cold Storage: Refrigeration energy for post-harvest crop preservation
- Agrivoltaics (Dual Use): Growing crops and generating energy on the same land
- Utility-Scale Land Leasing: Earning passive income by leasing idle land to energy developers
| Agricultural Application |
Typical System |
Annual Energy Saving |
Payback |
| Small Irrigation Pump (5 HP) | 5–8 kWp | 80% of pump costs | 1.5–2 yrs |
| Mid-Sized Greenhouse (2,000 m²) | 20–40 kWp | ₺86K–₺172K/yr | 2–3 yrs |
| Large Orchard + Cold Store | 50–100 kWp | ₺215K–₺430K/yr | 2.5 yrs |
| Large Greenhouse / Flower Farm | 100–300 kWp | ₺430K–₺1.3M/yr | 2–3 yrs |
Solar Irrigation Pump Systems: The Technical Detail
There are two core configurations for agricultural pump systems:
- Off-Grid Pump Drive (VFD Solar): No grid connection required — a variable frequency drive synchronises the pump motor speed with live solar output. A direct panel + VFD + pump configuration is possible with no battery at all
- On-Grid Pump + Net Meter: A grid-tied system where panels run the pump by day and grid power covers the night, taking full advantage of consumption-based net metering
- Typical payback for irrigation pump systems is 18–24 months — one of the fastest-returning investments anywhere in the agricultural sector
Antalya's Greenhouse Belt: Why Solar Is Mission-Critical
Antalya province is home to more than a third of Turkey's total greenhouse production. The districts of Kemer, Kumluca, Finike and Serik form the most intensive covered-cultivation zones on the Mediterranean. Growers here face heavy energy demand from heating and lighting in winter and from irrigation in summer. When this year-round, two-directional consumption meets Antalya's climate — where solar generation runs uninterrupted throughout the year — the case for an agricultural solar investment becomes exceptionally compelling.
Agrivoltaics: Crops and Energy on the Same Land
An agrivoltaic (dual-use farm-and-solar) system mounts panels at a calculated height above the field, generating energy while still letting enough sunlight through to grow crops below. Research shows that shade-tolerant plants — lettuce, spinach, strawberries and certain fruit saplings — can cut water consumption by around 30% under agrivoltaic arrays. That is a serious operational advantage during periods of water scarcity. We can prepare an agrivoltaic feasibility analysis tailored to your land and crop type.
TKDK and IPARD Grants for Agricultural Solar
In certain funding windows, agricultural solar investments may qualify for grant financing through the TKDK (the Agriculture and Rural Development Support Institution) and IPARD programmes. These grants typically provide non-repayable support of between 30% and 50% of the eligible investment. Because funding periods and eligibility criteria change frequently, our advisors track the current support programmes and brief you on what is available.
