16
Introduction
In recent years the growing use of various forms of
irrigation in agriculture has increased energy demands
and the high energy tariffs, which follow an upward
trend, have created an increasingly untenable situation
in the sector.
In the Southeast of Spain, one of mainland Europe’s most
active agricultural centers, statistics show that energy
consumption in the irrigation district and on-farm irrigation
systems accounted between 18% and 29% of the total
annual energy consumed during water supply.
Nevertheless, the water supply at basin level, running from
the water source to the pumping station within the irrigation
district represents the highest energy consumption.
Consumption that can range from between 0.06 kilowatts
per metric cube of surface water up to one kilowatt per
metric cube for external water transfers.
Over the years a number of possible scenarios have
been developed to reduce the energy consumption of
the irrigDted DreDs to iPSroYe the eIficiDncy oI ZDter
Dnd energy (nergy eIficiency criteriD incorSorDted into
the design of networks layout and pumping stations,
while contiguous studies have developed strategies
in order to improve management, reducing the energy
requirements of the irrigation networks and with it
reducing energy costs.
Throughout Spain, electricity is generated mainly from
fossil fuels and minerals, which are not only non-renewable
bXt DOso SrodXce significDnt enYironPentDO iPSDcts
Recently, the incorporation of renewable energy in
water distribution systems is being considered as a new
alternative, especially in urban supply systems, with an
eye to reducing negative effects on the environment while
at the same time enablng sustainable development in
different productive sectors.
Another alternative being considers is the installation of
hybrid systems that will hopefully generate an optimal
combination of several energy sources, among them
solar, wind and hydro, which would make for a reduction in
energy costs contributing to the sustainable management
of water distribution systems.
In the agricultural sector the implementation of renewable
energy resources is becoming increasingly common, such
as the use of solar energy to power in pumping systems
for irrigation, although, at least for the time being, these
energy resources are only being applied in small farms
with low power requirements (not exceeding 10 kW) .
,n order to recieYe D cOeDrer SictXre oI the SossibOe benefits
SotentiDO benefits both econoPic Dnd enYironPentDO oI
the joint application of energy saving measures and
renewable energy in one irrigation district with high power
requirements, a series of tests were carried out in the
Guadalquivir river basin in Southern Spain.
Material and methods
The study area is situated in the Bembézar Margen
Izquierda (BMI) irrigation district is located in the
Guadalquivir river basin of Córoba in Southern Spain.
(See Figure One).
The climate of the region is typically Mediterranean, with
annual rainfall concentrated mainly in autumn and spring,
with long dry spells in summer, with an average annual
rainfall in the area is 540 mm and the average temperature
is 17.9°C.
The total irrigated area of BMI is around four thousand
Assessing the potential
of utilizing solar energy
in pressurized irrigation networks
irrigation agriculture has increased
energy demands and the high energy
tariffs, have created an increasingly
untenable situation in the sector