Design and Operational Analysis of a Photovoltaic Irrigation System

In the context of the worldwide high fossil fuels consumption and their environmental and geopolitical consequences, the intensive investment in renewable energy technologies such as solar-thermal, solar PV, wind and hydroelectric has emerged as unavoidable for the next decades energy transition goals. This study objective is the design and analysis of a 3 kWp solar PV system for the irrigation of a one-hectare blueberry plantation in the North of Portugal. To maximize the self-consumption energy, the best match must be achieved between the PV system production profile and the irrigation pumps consumption profile, without the use of a battery. The PVsyst software was used to model the case study, considering the location Typical Meteorological Year data obtained by the commercial program, Meteonorm. The simulation allowed the annual estimation of the electricity available at the inverter outlet, the exported into the National grid and the required from the grid in periods of low production. Finally, the economic feasibility of the project was evaluated, taking into account three operating scenarios. The electricity consumption estimation is 3582 kWh/year from which 71% is expected to be provided by the PV system with an annual production of 4514 kWh. The excess energy that will be injected into the grid corresponds to 1973 kWh/year with 58% corresponding to the winter months when the irrigation system is turned off. The economic analysis concluded that the PV system viability is conditioned by the high investment costs and the adequate dynamic management of the irrigation system.