Chapter 2 - Water–Energy Nexus in Irrigated Areas. Lessons From Real Case Studies

Abstract

Irrigated agriculture will have to face the challenge of ensuring the food demands of an increasing population over the coming years, making sustainable use of water and energy resources essential. Irrigation networks have undergone a thorough transformation toward systems with higher water use efficiency, but in general these are more energy demanding. Thus different strategies focused on the joint optimization of water and energy resources have been developed, achieving significant reductions in the use of both resources. In this chapter, energy-saving strategies for water distribution networks are presented and the role of photovoltaic energy in the irrigation sector is discussed. An example of smart solar irrigation in olive orchards is presented proving that photovoltaic energy represents a real, viable, and sustainable alternative in areas with appropriate irradiation levels, providing energy independence and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.