Energy and environmental performances of hybrid photovoltaic irrigation systems in Mediterranean intensive and super-intensive olive orchards

Todde, Giuseppe, Murgia, Lelia, Deligios, Paola Antonia, Almeida, Rita H., Carrêlo, Isaac B., Moreira, Madalena, Pazzona, Antonio, Ledda, Luigi and Narvarte Fernández, Luis ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6289-7605 (2018). Energy and environmental performances of hybrid photovoltaic irrigation systems in Mediterranean intensive and super-intensive olive orchards. "Science of the Total Environment", v. 651 ; pp. 2514-2523. ISSN 0048-9697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.175.

Description

Title: Energy and environmental performances of hybrid photovoltaic irrigation systems in Mediterranean intensive and super-intensive olive orchards
Author/s:
  • Todde, Giuseppe
  • Murgia, Lelia
  • Deligios, Paola Antonia
  • Almeida, Rita H.
  • Carrêlo, Isaac B.
  • Moreira, Madalena
  • Pazzona, Antonio
  • Ledda, Luigi
  • Narvarte Fernández, Luis https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6289-7605
Item Type: Article
Título de Revista/Publicación: Science of the Total Environment
Date: October 2018
ISSN: 0048-9697
Volume: 651
Subjects:
Freetext Keywords: LCA Solar energy PV water pumping GHG agriculture Electricity and diesel fuel Climate change
Faculty: Instituto de Energía Solar (IES) (UPM)
Department: Ingeniería Telemática y Electrónica
UPM's Research Group: Sistemas Fotovoltáicos
Creative Commons Licenses: Recognition - Share

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Abstract

Over the last decades, traditional olive production has been converted to intensive and super-intensive cultivation systems, characterized by high plant density and irrigation. Although this conversion improves product quality and quantity, it requires a larger amount of energy input. The new contributions in this paper are, first, an analysis of the energy and environmental performance of two commercial-scale high peak-power hybrid photovoltaic irrigation systems (HPVIS) installed at intensive and super-intensive Mediterranean olive orchards; second, an analysis of PV hybrid solutions, comparing PV hybridization with the electric power grid and with diesel generators; and finally, a comparison of the environmental benefits of HPVIS with conventional power sources.

Energy and environmental performances were assessed through energy and carbon payback times (EPBT and CPBT). The results show EPBT of 1.98 and 4.58 years and CPBT of 1.86 and 9.16 years for HPVIS in Morocco and Portugal, respectively. Moreover, the HPVIS were able to achieve low emission rates, corresponding to 48 and 103 g CO2e per kWh generated.

The EPBT and CPBT obtained in this study were directly linked with the irrigation schedules of the olive orchards; therefore, weather conditions and irrigation management may modify the energy and environmental performances of HPVIS.

The consumption of grid electricity and diesel fuel, before and after the implementation of HPVIS, was also analyzed. The results obtained show fossil energy savings of 67% for the Moroccan farm and 41% for the Portuguese installation. These savings suggest that the energy produced by HPVIS in olive orchards will avoid the emissions of a large amount of greenhouse gas and the exploitation of natural resources associated with fossil fuel production.

Funding Projects

Type
Code
Acronym
Leader
Title
Horizon 2020
640771
MASLOWATEN
Luis Narvarte Fernández
MArket uptake of an innovative irrigation Solution based on LOW WATer-ENergy consumption

More information

Item ID: 52638
DC Identifier: https://oa.upm.es/52638/
OAI Identifier: oai:oa.upm.es:52638
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.175
Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...
Deposited by: Dr. Luis Narvarte Fernández
Deposited on: 16 Oct 2018 08:53
Last Modified: 16 Oct 2018 08:53
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