Maximum Area That Can Be Economically Irrigated by Solar Photovoltaic Pumping System
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 1
Abstract
This work describes the cost efficiency of a solar photovoltaic (PV) pumping system for irrigation system in relation to the most effective traditional power system, a diesel engine. A mathematical model for optimal sizing of a solar PV pumping system is used to estimate the maximum area that can be economically irrigated by the solar PV pumping system. The proposed methodology and model have been applied in two different areas in Croatia Osijek and Split, as paradigms of continental and coastal Croatia as well as European Union. The obtained results show that maximum areas which can be economically irrigated in the Osijek region are greater than in the Split region. Such result indicates that PV irrigation systems can be equally economically applied in relatively cooler climates and with less solar radiation, as well as in a warmer Mediterranean climate.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Barlow, R., McNelis, B., and Derrick, A. (1993). Solar pumping, an introduction and update on the technology, performance, costs, and economics, Intermediate Technology Publications and The World Bank, Washington, D.C.
Ecofys Energy and Environment. (2001). “Autonomous PV-generators in agriculture and water management in The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France and Finland.” Final Rep. Project No. SE/218/95 NL/DE/ES, Postbus 8408, NL-3503 RK Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Frische, U. R., and Lenz, V. (2000). “Life-cycle analysis of PV and diesel pumps for irrigation in developing countries.” Oeko-Institut Institute for Applied Ecology and GTZ—Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer technische Zusammenarbeit GmbH, Darmstadt, ⟨http://www.oeko.de/service/gemis/files/doku/pvp-summary.pdf⟩ (March 2000).
Glasnovic, Z., and Margeta, J. (2007). “Optimization of irrigation with photovoltaic pumping system.” Water Resour. Manage., 21(8), 1277–1297.
Hrabak-Tumpa, G. (2003). Climate data for Osijek and Split, Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia.
Kenna, J., and Gillett, B. (1985). Solar water pumping—Handbook, Intermediate Technology Publications, London.
Lu, J., Sun, G., McNulty, S. G., and Amatya, D. M. (2005). “A comparison of six potential evapotranspiration methods for regional use in the southeastern United States.” J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc., 41(3), 621–633.
Posorski, R. (1996). “Photovoltaic water pumps, an attractive tool for rural drinking water supply.” Sol. Energy, 58(4–6), 155–163.
Tomic, F. (1988). Irrigation, Croatian Association of Agriculture Engineers and Technicians and Faculty of Agriculture Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia (in Croatian).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 1 • February 2009
Pages: 44 - 49
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 11, 2007
Accepted: Apr 14, 2008
Published online: Feb 1, 2009
Published in print: Feb 2009
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.