Development of a Photovoltaic Irrigation Project at Fazenda Lagoa do Sino/UFSCar and Its Adequacies to the Brazilian Energy and Environmental System

• Grant number: 24/15839-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: January 08, 2025
• End date: April 01, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Rural Energization
• Principal Investigator: Rafael de Oliveira Tiezzi
• Grantee: Rafael de Oliveira Tiezzi
• Host Investigator: Luis Narvarte Fernandez
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências da Natureza (CCN). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Campus de Lagoa do Sino. Buri , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Spain

Abstract

This project arises from an alarming global scenario of climate change, highlighted in the IPCC reports (2021-2023), which state with 99% certainty that the alteration of Earth's climate is a result of human actions. The energy transition to low-carbon sources, such as photovoltaic (PV) solar energy, emerges as one of the main solutions to prevent the worsening of the climate crisis. Brazil has stood out in the generation of clean and renewable energy, with 49.1% of its energy matrix derived from these sources in 2023, significantly above the global average of 15%. In the field of electricity generation, in 2023, 93% of Brazil's electricity came from clean sources. Photovoltaic solar energy in Brazil has grown exponentially, primarily through distributed generation, becoming the fastest-growing energy source in the country. In this context, agricultural irrigation, which consumes about 5% of the country's energy, presents a promising field for the application of photovoltaic systems, reducing operational costs and environmental impact. Furthermore, the adoption of floating solar panel systems in water bodies, such as reservoirs and ponds, enhances efficiency by reducing panel heating and minimizing evaporation, which is particularly relevant in regions facing water scarcity. The project aims to develop and implement a floating photovoltaic irrigation system at the Lagoa do Sino Farm, owned by UFSCar. This farm serves as an open-air laboratory for teaching, research, and extension activities. The project will benefit from the expertise of the Solar Energy Institute of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, which has nearly 40 years of experience in photovoltaic systems for rural electrification and water pumping. The technical and economic feasibility of the system will be evaluated, considering the region's specific climatic conditions and the integration with the electric grid or autonomous operation. The goal of the project is to design a photovoltaic irrigation system, prioritizing the installation of floating panels at the Lagoa do Sino Farm, focusing on optimizing the use of non-arable land and promoting energy sustainability for agricultural irrigation. The methodology involves analyzing the farm's electricity consumption, evaluating the possibilities of using the electric grid as a battery or operating the system autonomously, and designing a floating photovoltaic irrigation system in comparison to a land-based system. Productive and environmental data from the farm, along with the experience of the Photovoltaic Systems Research Group at IES-UPM, will be used to design a system that meets the irrigation needs of an initial area of 33 hectares. The project will be developed during a technical visit to UPM, and after returning to Brazil, funding will be sought for large-scale implementation.