Renewable Energy Supplying Strategy for a Greenhouse Based on the Water-Energy-Economy Nexus

Nowadays, global population growth has raised issues regarding food production worldwide and greenhouses can play a critical role in addressing this issue. They increase agricultural productivity by creating controlled environmental conditions. In this research, a novel approach regarding optimizing greenhouse energy use in Iran, focusing on employing renewable energy sources is presented. It explores five cities of Tehran, Tabriz, Rasht, Bandar Abbas, and Yazd - to identify the most suitable location for a renewable-energy-driven greenhouse. The study integrates thermal modeling for environmental control within the greenhouse and calculates the required heating and cooling load which are supplied using renewable-energy driven components. The research assesses each location based on energy and water consumption, environmental impact, and cost by employing multi-criteria decision-making methods. The findings reveal Yazd, a city with hot and dry weather, as the most energy-efficient location, having 190.9 MW.h of electricity consumption as well as the lowest amount of fuel consumption (18.32 Tons), while Bandar Abbas, having hot and humid weather, stands out for minimal water usage which is 2.76 m3. Therefore, it can be concluded that, this type of renewable-energy driven greenhouse would be much suitable for cities with hot and dry weather condition. •Yazd has the lowest electricity consumption and fuel consumption which are 190.9 MW.h and 18.7 Tons, respectively. Bandar Abbas is the city with the lowest amount of water consumption, 2012.32 m3, and Rasht city has the highest initial cost.•The greater the difference between the temperature of the greenhouse at night and the day (provided that the temperature range of the greenhouse is not violated), the cooling and heating load required by the greenhouse will be lower.•In cities which are not humid, it is not cost-effective to use a compression cooling system; Because their electricity consumption is about 3 times the electricity consumption of evaporative cooling system.•The use of PC covers reduces the required annual heating load and the use of PMMA covers reduces the annual cooling load of the greenhouse.•Making the greenhouse renewable-energy driven (using photovoltaic panels and batteries) have the largest share in the initial costs, more than 90%, for establishing it.•In most of the considered weight matrices of AHP method integrated with TOPSIS, Tehran is the best city to establish a tomato greenhous