Antalya Goes Solar: Turkish City Focuses on Renewable Energy to Boost Agriculture

A 5-megawatt solar power plant has been built in Dağbeli, on the outskirts of Antalya, Turkey, to provide free energy to local farmers. The region is a crucial hub for fruit and vegetable production both for the domestic and export markets, accounting for about one fifth of Turkish fruit and vegetable exports and over 30% of the country’s greenhouse areas. The solar power plant will support irrigation systems and help farmers, who previously refrained from using irrigation systems due to the high energy prices, increase their crop production. This solution will be replicated in other areas of the city.

Potential environmental impact:

The solar power plant is part of a broader effort by Antalya’s local authorities to boost renewable energy and electric mobility. The project, developed as part of the EU project MAtchUP, will help to reduce carbon emissions and make energy savings. Other efforts in the city include the installation of a solar park on the rooftop of the city hall, the electrification of the bus network, and “intelligent intersections” – traffic lights which adapt to the amount of traffic and monitor the number and pollution levels of vehicles on the road. This will all help to reduce the city’s carbon footprint, improve air quality, and create a more sustainable future for the city.