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Energy analysis of irrigation delivery systems: monitoring and evaluation of proposed measures for improving energy efficiency

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Abstract

In Spain, the Ministry of Industry is implementing actions for analyzing the energy efficiency of Water User Associations (WUAs) by using energy indicators and proposing measures to improve the use of energy. The main objective of this work was to develop tools to improve energy efficiency in WUAs. These tools were validated by utilizing them in the energy analysis of 15 WUAs located in Castilla-La Mancha Region (Spain) during the 2007 irrigation season. These tools were also utilized for the proposal of measures to improve the use of energy. The proposed measures were monitored and evaluated in 7 of the 15 WUAs during the 2008 irrigation season. The developed tools were integrated into a Decision Support System for performing energy analysis and for proposing measures of energy efficiency improvement. In most of the study cases, an improvement of the energy efficiency after the implementation of the proposed measures was detected, with an average energy saving of the 10.2%.

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Abbreviations

AAP:

Average absorbed power (kW)

AAPSr:

Average absorbed power per irrigated area (kW ha−1)

ACE:

Annual consumed energy (kWh)

ACESr:

Annual consumed energy per irrigated area (kWh ha−1)

ACEVT :

Annual consumed energy per total annual volume of irrigation water delivered (kWh m−3)

ECSr:

Energy cost per irrigated area (€ ha−1)

ECVT :

Energy cost per total annual volume of irrigation water delivered (€ m−3)

ED:

Main system water delivery efficiency (%)

EDI:

Energy dependence index (%)

EEPS:

Energy efficiency of the pumping system (%)

EES:

Efficiency of the energy supply (%)

f i :

Frequency of Q i (fraction)

GEE:

General energy efficiency (%)

HFP :

Pumping head of the fix-speed pumps (m)

Hi :

Pressure head in the flow interval I (m)

HVSP :

Pumping head of the variable-speed pumps (m)

Q i :

Average flow for the flow interval i (m3 s−1)

Sa:

Command area (ha)

SDHE:

Standard deviation of the hydrants elevation (m)

Sr:

Total irrigated area

V s :

Total annual volume of irrigation water delivery (m3)

V T :

Total annual volume of irrigation water delivered (m3)

VTSa:

Total annual irrigation water supply per unit command area (m3 ha−1)

VTSr:

Annual irrigation water supply per unit irrigated area (m3 ha−1)

WHI:

Water head at the intake point (m)

WUA:

Water users’ association

α:

The relative speed of the pump (fraction)

ηFP :

Efficiency of the fix-speed pumps (%)

η i :

Pumping station efficiency for each flow Q i (%)

ηVSP :

Efficiency of the variable-speed pumps (%)

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Regional Energy Agency in Castilla-La Mancha (AGECAM) for providing funding and support through the “Auditorías energéticas en Castilla-La Mancha” project, and making the implementation of this study possible. We also would like to acknowledge the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) for funding the AGL2007-66716-C03-03 project, and to the Consejería de Educación y Ciencia de Castilla-La Mancha for funding project PCI08-0117.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Centre of Water Research, Castilla-La Mancha University, 02071, Albacete, Spain

    M. A. Moreno, J. F. Ortega, J. I. Córcoles, A. Martínez & J. M. Tarjuelo

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  1. M. A. Moreno
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  2. J. F. Ortega
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  3. J. I. Córcoles
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  4. A. Martínez
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  5. J. M. Tarjuelo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. Moreno.

Additional information

Communicated by J. Kijne.

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Moreno, M.A., Ortega, J.F., Córcoles, J.I. et al. Energy analysis of irrigation delivery systems: monitoring and evaluation of proposed measures for improving energy efficiency. Irrig Sci 28, 445–460 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-010-0206-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-010-0206-8

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