Converting a Water Pressurized Network in a Small Town into a Solar Power Water System

Miguel Ángel Pardo, Héctor Fernández and Antonio Jodar-Abellan
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Miguel Ángel Pardo: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Héctor Fernández: Ciclo Hídrico, Diputación de Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Antonio Jodar-Abellan: University Institute of Water and Environmental Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-26

Abstract: The efficient management of water and energy is one challenge for managers of water pressurized systems. In a scheme with high pressure on the environment, solar power appears as an opportunity for nonrenewable energy expenditure reduction and emissions elimination. In Spain, new legislation that eliminates old taxes associated with solar energy production, a drop in the cost of solar photovoltaic modules, and higher values of irradiance has converted solar powered water systems into one of the trendiest topics in the water industry. One alternative to store energy (compulsory in standalone photovoltaic systems) when managing pressurized urban water networks is the use of head tanks (tanks accumulate water during the day and release it at night). This work intends to compare the pressurized network running as a standalone system and a hybrid solution that incorporates solar energy supply and electricity grids. The indicator used for finding the best choice is the net present value for the solar power water system lifespan. This study analyzed the possibility of transferring the energy surplus obtained at midday to the electricity grid, a circumstance introduced in the Spanish legislation since April 2019. We developed a real case study in a small town in the Alicante Province, whose findings provide planning policymakers with very useful information in this case and similar case studies

Keywords: standalone water pressurized networks; net present value; head tanks; surplus energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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