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Comparative analysis of the economic feasibility of five large-power photovoltaic irrigation systems in the Mediterranean region

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  • Carrêlo, Isaac Barata
  • Almeida, Rita Hogan
  • Narvarte, Luis
  • Martinez-Moreno, Francisco
  • Carrasco, Luis Miguel

Abstract

The electricity costs for agricultural applications is dramatically increasing in the last years, making the solutions based on photovoltaics more attractive once the technological barriers that impeded high-power PV irrigation systems (PVIS) have been removed. But the data available in the literature are restricted to small-power PVIS what limits the feasibility assessment of the investment in this kind of systems for agricultural applications. This paper presents a comparative economic feasibility analysis of five large-power PVIS in the range from 40 to 360 kWp in the Mediterranean region, considering the investment required for each installation and the savings that they produce based on the real data of their performance during the years 2016 and 2017. The results show that the investment in PVIS in the Mediterranean region is always profitable, for all of the PVIS configurations and the powers considered in this study and even with frequent occurrences of events of lack of water that obliges the PVIS to stop, showing IRR values between 10 and 28%, and LCOE values ranging from 0.04 to 0.20 €/kWh. Moreover, the results allow concluding that PVIS that has a seasonal water pool and a strong water source show the best results in the feasibility analysis and, therefore, in order to segment the market for the introduction of large-power PVIS, the substitution of conventional power in this kind of existing irrigation networks, would be the priority.

Suggested Citation

  • Carrêlo, Isaac Barata & Almeida, Rita Hogan & Narvarte, Luis & Martinez-Moreno, Francisco & Carrasco, Luis Miguel, 2020. "Comparative analysis of the economic feasibility of five large-power photovoltaic irrigation systems in the Mediterranean region," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 2671-2682.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:145:y:2020:i:c:p:2671-2682
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.08.030
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Antonio Quijano & Celena Lorenzo & Luis Narvarte, 2023. "Economic Assessment of a PV-HP System for Drying Alfalfa in The North of Spain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Gökay Bayrak & Davut Ertekin & Hassan Haes Alhelou & Pierluigi Siano, 2021. "A Real-Time Energy Management System Design for a Developed PV-Based Distributed Generator Considering the Grid Code Requirements in Turkey," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Celena Lorenzo & Luis Narvarte & Ana Belén Cristóbal, 2020. "A Comparative Economic Feasibility Study of Photovoltaic Heat Pump Systems for Industrial Space Heating and Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    4. D’Adamo, Idiano & Falcone, Pasquale Marcello & Gastaldi, Massimo & Morone, Piergiuseppe, 2020. "The economic viability of photovoltaic systems in public buildings: Evidence from Italy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    5. Ghasemi-Mobtaker, Hassan & Mostashari-Rad, Fatemeh & Saber, Zahra & Chau, Kwok-wing & Nabavi-Pelesaraei, Ashkan, 2020. "Application of photovoltaic system to modify energy use, environmental damages and cumulative exergy demand of two irrigation systems-A case study: Barley production of Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 1316-1334.
    6. Elshurafa, Amro M. & Alatawi, Hatem & Hasanov, Fakhri J. & Algahtani, Goblan J. & Felder, Frank A., 2022. "Cost, emission, and macroeconomic implications of diesel displacement in the Saudi agricultural sector: Options and policy insights," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    7. van de Loo, Maaike & Camacho Poyato, Emilio & van Halsema, Gerardo & Rodríguez Díaz, Juan Antonio, 2024. "Defining the optimization strategy for solar energy use in large water distribution networks: A case study from the Valle Inferior irrigation system, Spain," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    8. Safder, Usman & Tariq, Shahzeb & Yoo, ChangKyoo, 2022. "Multilevel optimization framework to support self-sustainability of industrial processes for energy/material recovery using circular integration concept," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    9. Naval, Natalia & Yusta, Jose M., 2022. "Comparative assessment of different solar tracking systems in the optimal management of PV-operated pumping stations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 931-941.
    10. Mercedes Garcia, Angel V. & Sánchez-Romero, Francisco Javier & López-Jiménez, P. Amparo & Pérez-Sánchez, Modesto, 2022. "A new optimization approach for the use of hybrid renewable systems in the search of the zero net energy consumption in water irrigation systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 853-871.

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