Evaluating the viability of installing photovoltaic panels on irrigation canals for energy generation and water storage
This innovative strategy leverages solar energy to deliver clean, renewable power for irrigation pumps and related equipment, while also facilitating water storage. A study conducted by the IKAIC in Khuzestan province, Iran, explored the installation of PV systems on canal irrigation systems. The st...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Energy Nexus |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427125000968 |
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| author | Ali Kaab Hassan Ghasemi-Mobtaker Mohammad Sharifi Uffe Jørgensen |
| author_facet | Ali Kaab Hassan Ghasemi-Mobtaker Mohammad Sharifi Uffe Jørgensen |
| author_sort | Ali Kaab |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This innovative strategy leverages solar energy to deliver clean, renewable power for irrigation pumps and related equipment, while also facilitating water storage. A study conducted by the IKAIC in Khuzestan province, Iran, explored the installation of PV systems on canal irrigation systems. The study indicates a PV system generates 7.22 GJ of solar energy per m² annually. To power the study area, about 23.3 ha of panels are needed. Utilizing the 114 ha of irrigation canals, if fully covered, could yield around 8233 TJ of energy, with an excess of 6550 TJ available for the grid. However, mutual shading limits usable panel coverage to 60 %, resulting in about 68.40 ha of coverage and generating approximately 4940 TJ, with 3257 TJ connectable to the grid. The analysis revealed that initial evaporation from the canal surface was around 1389,597 m³ annually. After the installation of PV panels, this figure fell to 764,278 m³, reflecting a reduction of 625,319 m³. This transforms to an approximate decrease of 11 ± 4 thousand m³ of water evaporation per km of canal. Thus, the implementation of PV panels on irrigation canals is highly recommended for both energy production and water conservation. This approach optimizes land use, supports sustainable development, and tackles the intertwined challenges of energy generation and water management. By harnessing solar power and utilizing existing infrastructure, this solution offers the potential to transform energy production and water resource management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4124e76a6f0c4d74af9cc3a0d5d22d34 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2772-4271 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Energy Nexus |
| spelling | doaj-art-4124e76a6f0c4d74af9cc3a0d5d22d342025-08-20T03:31:24ZengElsevierEnergy Nexus2772-42712025-06-011810045510.1016/j.nexus.2025.100455Evaluating the viability of installing photovoltaic panels on irrigation canals for energy generation and water storageAli Kaab0Hassan Ghasemi-Mobtaker1Mohammad Sharifi2Uffe Jørgensen3Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, IranDepartment of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran; Corresponding authors. Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran; Corresponding authors. Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University Viborg, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark; CBIO, Aarhus University Centre for Circular Bioeconomy, DenmarkThis innovative strategy leverages solar energy to deliver clean, renewable power for irrigation pumps and related equipment, while also facilitating water storage. A study conducted by the IKAIC in Khuzestan province, Iran, explored the installation of PV systems on canal irrigation systems. The study indicates a PV system generates 7.22 GJ of solar energy per m² annually. To power the study area, about 23.3 ha of panels are needed. Utilizing the 114 ha of irrigation canals, if fully covered, could yield around 8233 TJ of energy, with an excess of 6550 TJ available for the grid. However, mutual shading limits usable panel coverage to 60 %, resulting in about 68.40 ha of coverage and generating approximately 4940 TJ, with 3257 TJ connectable to the grid. The analysis revealed that initial evaporation from the canal surface was around 1389,597 m³ annually. After the installation of PV panels, this figure fell to 764,278 m³, reflecting a reduction of 625,319 m³. This transforms to an approximate decrease of 11 ± 4 thousand m³ of water evaporation per km of canal. Thus, the implementation of PV panels on irrigation canals is highly recommended for both energy production and water conservation. This approach optimizes land use, supports sustainable development, and tackles the intertwined challenges of energy generation and water management. By harnessing solar power and utilizing existing infrastructure, this solution offers the potential to transform energy production and water resource management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427125000968IrrigationPhotovoltaic systemsSolar energy, Sustainable developmentWater conservation |
| spellingShingle | Ali Kaab Hassan Ghasemi-Mobtaker Mohammad Sharifi Uffe Jørgensen Evaluating the viability of installing photovoltaic panels on irrigation canals for energy generation and water storage Energy Nexus Irrigation Photovoltaic systems Solar energy, Sustainable development Water conservation |
| title | Evaluating the viability of installing photovoltaic panels on irrigation canals for energy generation and water storage |
| title_full | Evaluating the viability of installing photovoltaic panels on irrigation canals for energy generation and water storage |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the viability of installing photovoltaic panels on irrigation canals for energy generation and water storage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the viability of installing photovoltaic panels on irrigation canals for energy generation and water storage |
| title_short | Evaluating the viability of installing photovoltaic panels on irrigation canals for energy generation and water storage |
| title_sort | evaluating the viability of installing photovoltaic panels on irrigation canals for energy generation and water storage |
| topic | Irrigation Photovoltaic systems Solar energy, Sustainable development Water conservation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427125000968 |
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