article · Applied Sciences
Agricultural irrigation requires reliable power, which can be challenging in remote regions without access to conventional energy infrastructure. A hybrid renewable energy system combining solar panels and wind turbines was formulated to meet the irrigation requirements of a three-hectare farm comprising 830 fruit trees in Skikda, Algeria. Rather than relying on traditional batteries for electrical energy storage, the installation employs an elevated water reservoir. Energy is stored as potential energy, and gravity powers the distribution of water, avoiding the economic and environmental costs of battery banks. Detailed mathematical models of the system components guided a multi-objective optimization process, balancing technical requirements against economic constraints. The resulting configuration precisely aligned energy production, calculated at 24 kilowatt-hours at an estimated cost of 16,119.40 US dollars, with minimum demand to avoid inefficiencies.
Remote farming often struggles with expensive or unreliable energy access, while standard renewable options depend on costly and environmentally damaging battery systems. Storing energy directly in elevated water reservoirs offers a practical, cleaner alternative. The mathematical sizing methodology prevents expensive over-engineering and provides a scalable framework to bring sustainable irrigation to rural agricultural areas lacking robust grid infrastructure.
The work provides a tailored sizing methodology and system design for agricultural businesses, farm operators, and microgrid developers operating in off-grid or remote areas. The abstract presents applied and tested modeling based on a specific three-hectare farm case study, accompanied by concrete cost and sizing outputs. It appears to be an applied design framework that can be adapted and generalised to other agricultural zones, though deployment readiness depends on commercial installation and on-site validation.
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This paper presents an innovative solution to address agricultural irrigation needs through a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) that was specifically designed for a farm located in the Skikda region of Algeria. This system is tailored to irrigate 830 fruit trees spread across 3 hectares with a total perimeter of 770 m. The proposed approach integrates two main renewable energy sources (while eliminating the use of traditional batteries for electrical energy storage): solar and wind. Instead, a large water reservoir is employed as an energy storage medium in the form of potential energy. Utilizing gravity, this reservoir directly powers the irrigation system for the fruit trees, thereby reducing the costs and environmental impacts associated with conventional batteries. This innovative design not only enhances sustainability, but also improves the system’s energy efficiency. To ensure precise and customized sizing of the system for the irrigation area, a detailed mathematical modeling of the key system components (solar panels, wind turbines, and reservoir) was conducted. This modeling identifies the critical design variables required to meet technical specifications and irrigation needs. A multi-objective optimization approach was then developed to determine the optimal configuration of the HRES, and this was achieved by considering both technical and economic constraints. The optimization algorithm used was tailored to the formulated problem, ensuring reliable and applicable results. The robustness of the optimization approach was shown by the precise match between energy production (24 kWh at 16,119.40 $) and the minimum demand. This alignment prevents over- or under-designing the system, which increases costs and reduces energy use. The findings highlight the relevance and effectiveness of the proposed methodology, demonstrating its practical utility and significant potential for generalization and adaptation to different agricultural zones with varying conditions. This work paves the way for sustainable and innovative solutions for agricultural irrigation, particularly in remote areas or regions lacking traditional energy infrastructure.
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DOI: 10.3390/app15126704
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