Multinational project SolAqua promotes irrigation with zero emissions

The Renewable Energies Chair - University of Évora (CER-UÉ) is the only Portuguese entity to be part of the SolAqua project consortium (Accessible, reliable and affordable solar irrigation for Europe and beyond), focused on high-power photovoltaic irrigation with support from the Horizon 2020 programme. Solar irrigation will allow the supply of energy for irrigation with zero emissions and a cost up to 70% lower than existing fossil fuel-based solutions.

Increasing the share of renewable energy in Europe is the main objective of this project coordinated at UÉ by Luís Fialho, when combining photovoltaic and hydraulic technology with high efficiency irrigation, bringing together, for this purpose, 11 organizations from six countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco and Romania).

The energy model of European agriculture requires a large amount of energy to pump water for irrigated crops, which implies a heavy bill of 4 billion euros, in addition to environmental costs associated with the 16 million tons of CO2 produced every year, which represent about 15% of total CO2 emissions from agriculture in the European Union (EU). In this context, solar irrigation has a huge potential for application, only untapped by non-technological barriers, such as lack of awareness and skills in solar irrigation among irrigators, local SMEs and public authorities.

According to CER-UÉ researcher, Luís Fialho, “the market for the adoption of high-power photovoltaic irrigation technology is at a critical point in the evolution of a still immature market”, so this project “will create and foster conditions for a successful evolution to a consolidated market, with high protection of the final consumer, reduction of costs and energy prices but also a high level of innovation. ”

The researcher recalls that the Renewable Energies Chair has, since 2010, developed technologies for solar energy and energy storage, in order to enhance the contribution of solar energy to the Energy Transition while also highlighting that there is a pilot installation in Alter-do-Chão, (see photo) using technology similar to that which will be developed by the SolAqua project.

In a first phase, this project intends to produce seven key materials and tools for the adoption of the solar irrigation market, such as the definition of quality standards and methodologies for economic and environmental assessment. At a later stage, a dissemination and communication plan, aimed at interested parties in Europe and North Africa, will be promoted on solar irrigation and on the exploration plan for SolAqua. This plan, which includes a support instrument to be replicated by public authorities for investments in solar irrigation, will enable the launch of a functional solar irrigation market.

The SolAqua consortium includes the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Euromediterranean Irrigators Community, Conference des Regions Peripheriques Maritimes d'Europe - Association, Consiglio dell'Ordine Nazionale del Dottori Agronomi and dei Dottori Forestali, University of Évora, Universita degli Studi Veterinaire Hassan II, Departamento Ganaderia y Medio Ambiente. Gobierno de Aragón, Conselleria de Agricultura, Medio Ambiente, Cambio Climatico y Desarrollo Rural, Abarca Companhia de Seguros SA and Calarasi County Council.

Published in 03.06.2020