Integrated photovoltaic system for rainwater collection and sustainable irrigation

Abstract

The integration of photovoltaic systems with rainwater harvesting offers a promising solution for enhancing water and energy management in arid and semiarid agricultural regions."This study presents an agrivoltaic system where photovoltaic panels function both as energy source and as surfaces for runoff collection, directing rainwater into a storage reservoir for irrigation. A detailed analysis was conducted to evaluate different scenarios, for a period of ten years, including panel inclination, optimizing at 35°, and the expansion of the photovoltaic field, to enhance energy efficiency and water availability. The results demonstrate that this approach significantly reduces water shortages, reducing critical cases below 50% in first scenario, particularly during peak irrigation demand periods, while increasing the system’s storage capacity and overall resilience to climate variability. The expansion of the photovoltaic system, which is scalable according to the application, demonstrates the overall reduction of critical cases in irrigation availability, increasing the reservoir capacity up to 60,000 m3, which can be combined with increased management of energy generated for the grid, or local generation in remote areas, in combination with improved water supply management. Additionally, the system improves energy sustainability by reducing reliance on external sources and lowering carbon emissions from agricultural activities. The findings highlight the potential of integrating photovoltaic systems into irrigation management as a scalable and replicable framework for enhancing resource efficiency and sustainability in water-scarce regions.