Opportunities for renewable energy in large Saskatchewan irrigation projects evaluated in HOMER pro software

With a less predictable climate, irrigated agriculture may contribute to global food security. Irrigation requires large water and energy inputs – creating a water-food-energy nexus. In Saskatchewan, irrigation typically sources energy from the provincial electrical utility, SaskPower. Using current...

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Main Authors: David Ross-Hopley, Ryan Husband, Lord Ugwu, Hussameldin Ibrahim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Sustainable Chemistry for Climate Action
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772826925000409
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author David Ross-Hopley
Ryan Husband
Lord Ugwu
Hussameldin Ibrahim
author_facet David Ross-Hopley
Ryan Husband
Lord Ugwu
Hussameldin Ibrahim
author_sort David Ross-Hopley
collection DOAJ
description With a less predictable climate, irrigated agriculture may contribute to global food security. Irrigation requires large water and energy inputs – creating a water-food-energy nexus. In Saskatchewan, irrigation typically sources energy from the provincial electrical utility, SaskPower. Using current utility infrastructure, dependence deepens the use of conventional fossil fuel power. With major cost decreases, renewable energy alternatives are increasingly techno-economically competitive. In undertaking energy system modelling using HOMER Pro software, this study investigates the viability of renewable energy for irrigation projects in Saskatchewan. Modelling includes a conventional energization scenario (energy provision through grid interconnection), a combination of conventional and renewable scenario, as well as a 100 % renewable scenario. Further, sensitivity analysis has been undertaken for permitted capacity shortages, utility rates, grid interaction and carbon pricing. The study provides the levelized cost of electricity for each scenario. Baseline results range from $0.0154/kWh for optimised hybrid systems, $0.1429/kWh for grid systems, and as high as $1.1101/kWh 100 % renewable energy systems. The success of renewable energy-driven integration is closely linked to the presence of a grid connection, and the rates governing interactions.
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spelling doaj-art-badcce65b8e5448f9e7f616b2a7ac9fd2025-08-20T03:50:21ZengElsevierSustainable Chemistry for Climate Action2772-82692025-12-01710009510.1016/j.scca.2025.100095Opportunities for renewable energy in large Saskatchewan irrigation projects evaluated in HOMER pro softwareDavid Ross-Hopley0Ryan Husband1Lord Ugwu2Hussameldin Ibrahim3Clean Energy Technologies Research Institute (CETRI), Industrial Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, S4S0A2, CanadaAssociated Engineering, 1922 Park St, Regina, SK S4N 7M4, CanadaClean Energy Technologies Research Institute (CETRI), Industrial Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, S4S0A2, CanadaClean Energy Technologies Research Institute (CETRI), Industrial Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, S4S0A2, Canada; Corresponding author.With a less predictable climate, irrigated agriculture may contribute to global food security. Irrigation requires large water and energy inputs – creating a water-food-energy nexus. In Saskatchewan, irrigation typically sources energy from the provincial electrical utility, SaskPower. Using current utility infrastructure, dependence deepens the use of conventional fossil fuel power. With major cost decreases, renewable energy alternatives are increasingly techno-economically competitive. In undertaking energy system modelling using HOMER Pro software, this study investigates the viability of renewable energy for irrigation projects in Saskatchewan. Modelling includes a conventional energization scenario (energy provision through grid interconnection), a combination of conventional and renewable scenario, as well as a 100 % renewable scenario. Further, sensitivity analysis has been undertaken for permitted capacity shortages, utility rates, grid interaction and carbon pricing. The study provides the levelized cost of electricity for each scenario. Baseline results range from $0.0154/kWh for optimised hybrid systems, $0.1429/kWh for grid systems, and as high as $1.1101/kWh 100 % renewable energy systems. The success of renewable energy-driven integration is closely linked to the presence of a grid connection, and the rates governing interactions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772826925000409Renewable energySolarWindBatteriesIrrigationCarbon pricing
spellingShingle David Ross-Hopley
Ryan Husband
Lord Ugwu
Hussameldin Ibrahim
Opportunities for renewable energy in large Saskatchewan irrigation projects evaluated in HOMER pro software
Sustainable Chemistry for Climate Action
Renewable energy
Solar
Wind
Batteries
Irrigation
Carbon pricing
title Opportunities for renewable energy in large Saskatchewan irrigation projects evaluated in HOMER pro software
title_full Opportunities for renewable energy in large Saskatchewan irrigation projects evaluated in HOMER pro software
title_fullStr Opportunities for renewable energy in large Saskatchewan irrigation projects evaluated in HOMER pro software
title_full_unstemmed Opportunities for renewable energy in large Saskatchewan irrigation projects evaluated in HOMER pro software
title_short Opportunities for renewable energy in large Saskatchewan irrigation projects evaluated in HOMER pro software
title_sort opportunities for renewable energy in large saskatchewan irrigation projects evaluated in homer pro software
topic Renewable energy
Solar
Wind
Batteries
Irrigation
Carbon pricing
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772826925000409
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