en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Comunidad de Regantes de Ascoy, Benís y Carrasquilla in Cieza, Murcia, Spain, has completed an energy efficiency improvement project at the Acequia del Horno pumping station, aimed at reducing electricity consumption during pressurized irrigation. The total project cost was €3.56 million (including VAT).
A representative from Ingeniería Murciana, the engineering firm responsible for project preparation and design, told pv magazine that the project constructed a 180,000 cubic meter regulating reservoir to store water conveyed from Acequia del Horno via low-pressure and high-pressure pumps. This solution reduces reliance on the existing high-pressure system and improves overall energy performance.
The spokesperson for Ingeniería Murciana stated that one main pump was replaced with a new unit with a flow rate of 600 liters per second and a head of 30 meters. The system also includes two high-pressure pumps, each with a power of 440 kW, a flow rate of 145 liters per second, and a head of 200 meters, used to transfer water from the new reservoir to the distribution network.
Energy analysis shows that the energy consumption of these pumps is 1,238.199 MWh, accounting for 67.80% of the electricity generated by the associated solar photovoltaic installation (1,826.375 MWh). The overall unit energy consumption of the irrigation district decreased from 1.81 kWh/m³ to 1.61 kWh/m³, maintaining hydraulic comparability, without accounting for the direct contribution of photovoltaic power generation.
The solar installation for self-consumption consists of 1,764 photovoltaic modules with a peak power of 620 Wp each, totaling an installed capacity of 1,093.68 kWp. These modules are from the Vertex N series of Chinese manufacturer Trina Solar, model bifacial TSM‑NEG19RC.20.
The power station is equipped with six inverters, each with a power of 150 kW at 40°C, for a total installed power of 900 kW. It uses Sunny Highpower 150‑20 inverters from German manufacturer SMA, with an AC apparent power of 150 kVA and an output voltage adjustable between 480 and 690 V, compatible with the existing 525 V voltage.
The support structure is fixed with a tilt angle of 30°. Stainless steel 1.4401 (AISI 316) bolts are used, suitable for marine and industrial environments. The profiles are made of hot-dip galvanized rolled steel, and are equipped with clamps, anchor plates, studs, and cable trays to protect wiring from weather conditions. The design defines two types of vertical module tables: 2V14 (two rows of seven modules) and 2V28 (two rows of fourteen modules).
The project was carried out by Murcia-based company Juan Azcue S.A. for the supply, installation, and maintenance of the pumping station's hydraulic machinery, Excavaciones Martínez for the reservoir construction, and Sol Sureste, a Murcia-based solar and energy efficiency specialist, for the photovoltaic installation. This action may receive funding from the Murcia Region's 2021-2027 FEDER program but did not receive direct European funds.
