Simultaneous optimization of cost, active power loss and water quantity in irrigation: a techno-economic study incorporating PV panels and demand-side management

Abstract

Abstract Currently, the whole world is facing energy shortage and water crisis. Management of water and energy usage in irrigation is essential to overcome the current crisis. This research introduces a techno-economic study to achieve simultaneous optimization of cost, active power loss and water quantity without violating the crop water requirement. Four scenarios are proposed incorporating energy demand-side management, PV panels integration and modification of the irrigation schedule and irrigation methodology for comparison against the existing scenario of pump-based irrigation system in Karot line, Assiut, Egypt. The grid-connected PV panels scenario achieves minimum system cost as well as minimum total system active-power loss and water quantity when compared with the other scenarios. Grid-connected PV panels with surface irrigation reduce the total system cost by 93% when compared with that of the Karot line. On the other hand, grid-connected PV panels with drip irrigation give a much more saving in water quantity and a further reduction in the total system active-power loss by 48.1 and 25.13%, respectively, when compared with those of the Karot line case.