Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems and Carbon Footprint Reduction in Livestock Production Facilities

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an essential component for photosynthesis, and its presence within certain limits in the atmosphere is necessary for the sustainability of life on Earth. However, the intensive use of fossil fuels in industry, transportation, agriculture, and residential sectors increases atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, leading to global climate change and an expansion of the carbon footprint. In particular, coal-fired thermal power plants are among the energy production sources with the highest CO₂ emissions per unit of energy. Depending on the diversity of electricity generation sources, the average emission factor is commonly accepted as 0.478 kg CO₂ per kWh of electricity production. In this context, the widespread use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy is of strategic importance for both environmental sustainability and combating climate change. The Marmara Region of Türkiye offers favorable conditions for such systems due to its high solar radiation duration and wind energy potential. In this study, the feasibility of meeting the energy demand required for the cooling system of a buffalo barn, designed with a capacity of 64 animals and located in rural Tekirdağ, was evaluated using a hybrid renewable energy system. The total power requirement for the fan–pad ventilation system was calculated as 8.04 kW, and considering production fluctuations and system losses, the installed capacity was determined as 12 kW. This capacity was designed to be equally distributed between a 6 kW photovoltaic system and a 6 kW wind turbine system. Considering the annual average daily sunshine duration of Tekirdağ (5.7 h day⁻¹), the theoretical annual energy production of the 6 kW photovoltaic system was calculated as 12483 kWh. By applying a performance ratio (PR) of 0.75 to account for system losses, the actual annual energy production was estimated to be approximately 9362 kWh. Assuming that the wind turbine operates for an average of 5 hours per day, its annual energy production was calculated as approximately 10950 kWh. Accordingly, the hybrid system provides a total annual energy production of approximately 20312 kWh, preventing the emission of approximately 9710 kg CO₂ into the atmosphere. The findings indicate that hybrid renewable energy systems offer an effective solution for meeting energy demands in rural livestock operations and contribute significantly to reducing the carbon footprint.