Business case on RECP assessment in Shirak Green Club member Tehmine Khachatryan PE -"Ecololik"
"Ecololik" is a micro-enterprise specializing in the cultivation of vegetables (mainly cherry tomatoes). The vegetables are grown within the company’s greenhouse, with harvests taking place once a year. During the three-month cultivation period, the company uses 500 liters of water daily. In the upcoming future, it plans to enhance the current conditions of the greenhouse by installing a photovoltaic heating system and increasing the thermal resistance of the covering structures, measures which could potentially triple the production volume. Motivated to address production costs, the company participated in the RECP Green Clubs project under EU4Environment (2019-2024). This publication details the company’s experience reported after the assessment exercise conducted in 2024.
The RECP assessment examined the production site and identified several RECP options, out of which the following six were prioritized:
RECP option 1: Collecting rainwater for irrigation: The measure suggests investing in a rainwater collection tank and connecting it to the existing irrigation system. This would allow for the collection of up to 40 % of the water needed for irrigation.
RECP option 2: Installing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels: A PV system with a capacity of 40 kWp would sufficiently cover the company’s energy needs (considering the electricity demand of the heating), generating around 60 MWh of electricity per year.
RECP option 3: Installing a heating system: Small infrared heaters would help warm the greenhouse to ensure its optimal performance.
RECP option 4: Covering the greenhouse: By covering the greenhouse with a double layer of polyethylene film (and by pumping air inside to insulate the internal hot air), the greenhouse could operate during winter months. This would significantly reduce additional heating costs by maintaining a more stable internal temperature.
RECP option 5: Soil mulching
RECP option 6: Producing compost
