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Sustainability in Agricultural Mechanization: Assessment of a Combined Photovoltaic and Electric Multipurpose System for Farmers

Author

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  • Hossein Mousazadeh

    (Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, University of Tehran, Shahabbasi Sq. Karaj, Iran)

  • Alireza Keyhani

    (Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, University of Tehran, Shahabbasi Sq. Karaj, Iran)

  • Hossein Mobli

    (Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, University of Tehran, Shahabbasi Sq. Karaj, Iran)

  • Ugo Bardi

    (Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Firenze, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy)

  • Toufic El Asmar

    (Dipartimento di Economia Agraria e risorse Territoriali, Università di Firenze, Italy)

Abstract

This study is dedicated to the assessment of the possibility of replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy as a source of power in modern agriculture. We examined the use of a completely sustainable agricultural mechanization system based on a renewable energy system and a battery powered, multi-purpose agricultural vehicle. This assessment is based on the RAMseS project, financed by the European Commission under the 6 th Framework Program, which has led to the actual manufacturing of the system, at present being tested in Lebanon. In the present study, we assess the environmental and economic performance of the RAMseS system. We evaluate the external costs by means of a specific model that takes into account the life-cycle cost (LCC), economical indexes, and life-cycle emissions for the vehicle during its life span. The results are compared with those of a standard vehicle based on the internal combustion engine (ICEV). The results show that the RAMseS system can avoid the emission of about 23 ton of CO 2equ per year. The life cycle cost (LCC) assessment using MATLAB software shows that the LCC for the RAMseS vehicle and the ICEV are the same for a fuel unit price (pf) of 1.45 €/L. Finally, we show that almost 52 % of the RAMseS LCC is due to the batteries of the electric vehicle. A 50% decrease in batteries unit cost would cause the LCC of two system to be the same at a fuel cost of 0.8 €/L. The final result is that the RAMseS system remains—at present— marginally more expensive than an equivalent system based on conventional fuels and internal combustion engines. Nevertheless, with the gradual depletion of fossil fuels, all electric agricultural mechanized system provide an alternative solution that is dependent only on renewable energy and recyclable resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Hossein Mousazadeh & Alireza Keyhani & Hossein Mobli & Ugo Bardi & Toufic El Asmar, 2009. "Sustainability in Agricultural Mechanization: Assessment of a Combined Photovoltaic and Electric Multipurpose System for Farmers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 1(4), pages 1-27, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:1:y:2009:i:4:p:1042-1068:d:6214
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bernal-Agustín, José L. & Dufo-López, Rodolfo, 2006. "Economical and environmental analysis of grid connected photovoltaic systems in Spain," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(8), pages 1107-1128.
    2. El-Kordy, M.N & Badr, M.A & Abed, K.A & Ibrahim, Said M.A, 2002. "Economical evaluation of electricity generation considering externalities," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 317-328.
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    2. Isabel Garcia-Herrero & Maria Margallo & Jara Laso & Raquel Onandía & Angel Irabien & Ruben Aldaco, 2017. "Measuring the Vulnerability of an Energy Intensive Sector to the EU ETS under a Life Cycle Approach: The Case of the Chlor-Alkali Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-23, May.
    3. Ilaria Zambon & Pere Serra & Rosanna Salvia & Luca Salvati, 2018. "Fallow Land, Recession and Socio-Demographic Local Contexts: Recent Dynamics in a Mediterranean Urban Fringe," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-17, October.

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