Optimization of Irrigation with Photovoltaic Pumping System

The usual methods for optimal sizing of photovoltaic (PV) irrigation water pumping systems, which separately considered the demand for hydraulic energy and possibilities of its production from available solar energy with the PV pumping system, are not optimal. However, by systematic approach to the problem, taking into account all relevant elements, from the PV water pumping system, water intake, local climate, soil, crops to method of irrigation, it is possible to optimize the determination of nominal power of the PV generator and obtain quality solutions. This paper presents one such method for optimal sizing. For the purpose of testing the proposed model for optimal sizing, in order to show to what extent it describes the system and to obtain corresponding research results, two areas were selected, in typical climate regions of Osijek and Split, as patterns of continental and coastal Croatia. By variation of certain values in the system, their effects on calculation of the optimal electric power of PV generator were observed.