THE DETERMINATION OF WIND-POWERED IRRIGATION POTENTIAL IN TURKEY

Irrigation is considered a common need for agricultural production in all around the world. Instead of the high priced fossil fuels, wind-powered agricultural irrigation is an alternative usage of renewable energy in Turkey. However, it is necessary to be researched technically and economically before the implementation. In this paper; crop types, geographical frame, and groundwater quantity were taken into consideration in the context of technical feasibility. A cost analysis was done by consideration of the costs of water storage tanks, wind turbine, and pump as an economic feasibility study. The results of feasibility study provided that there is enough irrigation potential based on wind power in Marmara, Aegean and East Mediterranean regions. The increase in wind-powered irrigation will optimize the agricultural water use and preserve the environment from adverse impacts of greenhouse gases.