Geothermal heated greenhouse growing in Türkiye

While the "supply security in agriculture" debate continues around the world, geothermal heated greenhouse cultivation, which can be produced for 11 months in Türkiye, has started to become widespread in recent years.

Türkiye ranks seventh in the world and first in Europe in terms of geothermal energy resources potential, TRT Haber reports. 

With the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, various studies are carried out in order to benefit from this opportunity in agriculture at the highest level.

The presence of greenhouses heated with geothermal energy has reached approximately 5 thousand decares. On the other hand, 30 thousand decares of greenhouse in the country have the potential to be heated with this source.

While greenhouse investments accelerate in regions with geothermal resources, natural clustering is also formed in these regions.

Thanks to this source, greenhouses that do not need heating on the cold days of the year also provide an advantage with local, environmentalist, renewable and low heating costs.

Geothermal heated greenhouses stand out with their year-round production and prevention of seasonal supply shortages.

It is planned to use this resource more in greenhouse cultivation to establish modern and planned greenhouse zones with a high competitive advantage and brand value.

Various studies are carried out in order to increase the share of this resource in greenhouse cultivation in order to reduce energy costs in heating greenhouses in Turkey and to use the country's geothermal energy potential more efficiently and sustainably.

5 of the specialized organized industrial zones (TDIOSB) based on agriculture on plant production, which has gained legal personality, are geothermal greenhouse projects. They operate in Ağrı, Aydın, Denizli, Kütahya and Nevşehir.

The work and operations of 13 TDIOSBs originating from geothermal continue. These will be put into operation in Afyonkarahisar, Ağrı, Aydın, Çanakkale, Denizli, İzmir (Dikili, Seferihisar and Aliağa), Kayseri, Kütahya, Manisa, Nevşehir and Uşak.

One of these projects, the foundation of the geothermal heated greenhouse, which will be put into operation in the Dikili district of İzmir, will be laid with a ceremony tomorrow.

The facility, which will operate on a total area of 3 million 29 thousand square meters, will be the largest geothermal heated TDIOSB of Europe and Türkiye.  

The project, whose total investment amount will reach 5 billion TL when completed, will contribute 1.6 billion TL annually to the national economy when fully operational.

In this area, 50 high-tech greenhouses with a minimum of 25 decares of geothermal energy heating, 35 industrial facilities where the produced products will be processed, packaged and stored, Greenhouse Training Center and R&D centre will be established.

80 thousand tons of products will be obtained annually from the said area. It is planned to employ 3,500 people, 90 per cent of whom are women, in the region.

The project will be implemented with the cooperation of İzmir Governor's Office, İzmir Chamber of Commerce, the Aegean Region Chamber of Industry, İzmir Commodity Exchange, Aegean Exporters' Associations, Dikili Municipality and Bergama Chamber of Commerce.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Vahit Kirişci said that agricultural production has gained importance all over the world, especially after the Covid-19 epidemic.

Stressing that they are always with the farmers and they will continue to be, Kirişci said that they say "You produce is enough".

Kirişci said, "We attach great importance to the use of geothermal resources in production in industrial greenhouses. We welcome investments in this area." said.