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Comparing the environmental and economic impacts of on- or off-grid solar photovoltaics with traditional energy sources for rural irrigation systems

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  • Mérida García, A.
  • Gallagher, J.
  • McNabola, A.
  • Camacho Poyato, E.
  • Montesinos Barrios, P.
  • Rodríguez Díaz, J.A.

Abstract

This study quantifies the environmental and economic life cycle impacts of solar photovoltaics (PV), grid electricity and a diesel generator as power sources for pumping water in an irrigation network in Spain. It compares these energy sources in the context of on-grid or off-grid scenarios, where the PV energy is consumed solely by the irrigation pumping system (off-grid) or distributed between the pump and grid (on-grid). Overall, the results show the PV as the option with lower burdens for most environmental impact categories in both, an off- and on-grid scenario, over a 30-year lifespan. However, solar PV demonstrated a higher abiotic resource depletion burden, due to the high material demands from its manufacturing. The on-grid PV option allowed for the export of excess energy, having environmental impacts six times lower than the off-grid option. From an economic perspective, solar PV option was the cheapest energy source, despite higher initial investment. Finally, extending the grid connection to the isolated location ensures grid exports from the solar PV installation, reducing the associated impacts by between 54 and 77% for the different burden categories. Based on a 30-year lifespan, solar PV is the most economically- and environmentally-viable energy source for pumping in irrigation networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Mérida García, A. & Gallagher, J. & McNabola, A. & Camacho Poyato, E. & Montesinos Barrios, P. & Rodríguez Díaz, J.A., 2019. "Comparing the environmental and economic impacts of on- or off-grid solar photovoltaics with traditional energy sources for rural irrigation systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 895-904.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:140:y:2019:i:c:p:895-904
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.03.122
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Carricondo-Antón, J.M. & Jiménez-Bello, M.A. & Manzano Juárez, J. & Royuela Tomas, A. & Sala, A., 2022. "Evaluating the use of meteorological predictions in directly pumped irrigational operations using photovoltaic energy," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    2. Mérida García, A. & González Perea, R. & Camacho Poyato, E. & Montesinos Barrios, P. & Rodríguez Díaz, J.A., 2020. "Comprehensive sizing methodology of smart photovoltaic irrigation systems," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    3. Selim Karkour & Yuki Ichisugi & Amila Abeynayaka & Norihiro Itsubo, 2020. "External-Cost Estimation of Electricity Generation in G20 Countries: Case Study Using a Global Life-Cycle Impact-Assessment Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-35, March.
    4. Rahman, Syed Mahbubur & Mori, Akihisa & Rahman, Syed Mustafizur, 2022. "How does climate adaptation co-benefits help scale-up solar-powered irrigation? A case of the Barind Tract, Bangladesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 1039-1048.
    5. Miguel Ángel Pardo & Ricardo Cobacho & Luis Bañón, 2020. "Standalone Photovoltaic Direct Pumping in Urban Water Pressurized Networks with Energy Storage in Tanks or Batteries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, January.
    6. 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.
    7. Ihsan Ullah & Nawab Khan & Yonghong Dai & Amir Hamza, 2023. "Does Solar-Powered Irrigation System Usage Increase the Technical Efficiency of Crop Production? New Insights from Rural Areas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-16, September.

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