Assessing the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of photovoltaic‐powered greenhouses in semi‐arid regions

Abstract

This study investigates the techno‐economic and environmental feasibility of integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems into a commercial agricultural greenhouse located in southern Tunisia under semi‐arid climatic conditions. The analysis is based on real electricity consumption data of 927 MWh/year combined with simulations performed using Renewable Energy Technology Screening Software Expert to evaluate grid‐connected PV systems. Three integration scenarios corresponding to 100%, 60%, and 40% of the annual energy demand were analyzed, with installed capacities of 613, 367.7, and 245.2 kWp, respectively. The results show that all scenarios achieve a capacity factor of approximately 18% and a levelized cost of electricity of 0.0882 Tunisian dinars (TND)/kWh, which is significantly lower than the national grid tariff of 0.291 TND/kWh, confirming the strong economic competitiveness of PV systems. The full PV integration scenario ensures complete energy autonomy and allows annual electricity exports of up to 196 MWh, while the partial scenarios cover approximately 60% and 40% of the demand. From an economic perspective, the system yields attractive financial indicators, including net present values of up to 1,161,538 TND, internal rates of return ranging from 28.6% to 40%, and payback periods between 4 and 7 years. Environmentally, the integration of PV significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, with annual savings ranging from 178 to 444 tCO ₂ . Overall, the findings demonstrate that PV integration in greenhouse systems enhances energy autonomy, reduces operating costs, and contributes to climate change mitigation, providing a practical decision‐support framework for sustainable agricultural practices in arid regions.