Thermodynamic and environmental assessment of apple production in Türkiye: regional comparison and agrivoltaic integration

This study presents a comprehensive thermodynamic and environmental assessment of apple cultivation across three major production regions in Türkiye: Antalya, Isparta and Niğde. This study is the first to provide an integrated energy, exergy and environmental assessment of agricultural voltaic systems by conducting a resource efficiency and sustainability assessment for open field apple production in Türkiye. Using a functional unit of one ton of apple production, the analysis integrates cumulative energy consumption (CEnC), cumulative exergy consumption (CExC) and cumulative carbon dioxide emissions (CCO₂E) to reveal the sustainability performance of regional farming systems. The results indicate significant spatial variations linked to climatic and operational factors. Niğde exhibited the highest total energy (3098 MJ/ton) and exergy (2975 MJ/ton) consumptions, mainly due to diesel-powered irrigation and mechanization, resulting in a cumulative carbon footprint of 125 kg CO_2/ton. Conversely, Antalya recorded the lowest total emissions (33 kg CO_2/ton) with a balanced energy profile dominated by fertilizers and electricity use. Isparta demonstrated the most thermodynamically efficient and renewable system, achieving the highest cumulative degree of perfection (CDP) (3.80) and Renewability Index (RI) (0.74) values. The integration of agrivoltaic systems (AVS) has further enhanced sustainability across all provinces, particularly in Niğde, by increasing CDP by up to 97%. These findings highlight the significant role that renewable energy integration plays in reducing carbon intensity and increasing resource efficiency in apple cultivation. By providing a region-specific perspective on agricultural thermodynamics, the study provides strategic insights into the transition to sustainable and climate-resilient food production systems in Türkiye.